:/ia
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THE ^* C,
ENTOMOLOGIST'S MONTHLY MAGAZINE:
CONDLC'TKn BY
J. W. DOUGLAS. E. C. RYE, F.Z.S.
R. McLACHLAN, F.L.S. H. T. STAINTON, F.R.S.
VOL. XI.
Omninm rertnn principia parva sunt, seel suis prof/rrssioiiihi(S nsa, aiigentur.''' — Cicero.
LONDON : JOHN VAN VOORST, 1, TATERNOSTER ROW.
1874-5.
LOND ON :
NAPIEB, PfilNTEB, SETMOUE STEEET, EUSTON SQUARE, N.W,
MDCCCLXXV.
^^^ THE
^^vsVsggni^^
(^'
^^.*^ VOLUME XI. ^^Sj\
After ten years' editorial conneetiou with this Magazine, the present seems a fitting time for my withdrawal. For some time past, increasing professional duties have prevented mc from taking that active part in the conduct of affairs which is clearly due from an Editor. In justice, therefore, to our supporters, to my colleagues, and to myself, I con- sider that the best thing to do under the circumstances is to resign ; and I do so, not only without reluctance, but with extreme pleasure, because, before taking this step, I am assured that a substitute for me has been found in our friend Douglas (in himself a world of insect-lore), who has consented to accept my duties and responsi- bilities : such an acquisition to the staff must meet with approval from all, as it is a guarantee that the Magazine will increase in value and interest. I need hardly add, that the Entomologist's Monthly Magazine will always have, as it has hitherto had, my heartiest wishes
fur its success.
H. GUAED KNAGGS.
Kentish Town, N.W. : May, 1874.
The unavoidable retirement of my friend Dr. Knaggs having caused a vacancy in the joint Editorship of this Magazine, and it having been represented to me that I could not better serve the cause of Ento- mology than by taking his place, I 'cannot resist the solicitations of my friends to occupy the position of a member of the quadruple alliance. Like Cincinnatus, I had retired from active duty ; recalled, I return to it, not like him as a dictator, but as a co-worker in the field I love, — corde et manu.
J. W. DOUGLAS.
15, Belgrave Tcrracp, Lee, S.E. : May, 1874.
E, 1874.
2 [June,
DESCRIPTIONS OP SOME NEW SPECIES OF THE GENUS PACHYTRICHA.
BY D. SHARP, M.B.
Among the many interesting and anomalous genera of Goleoptera that inhabit Australia, the genus PacTiytricJia is probably one of the most remarkable. Its satisfactory classification is a difficult point, and I think must yet remain so. Hope considered the genus allied to Olajjliyriis and Chasmatopterics ; Erichson considered it to be an ally of Eucliiriis, but afterwards changed this opinion, and placed PacJiy- tricha among the group of Sericoid Melolonthce, of which numerous genera are found in Australia, one or two in Western South America, one or two in New Zealand, and one in Europe. This group of Sericoid Melolonthce, as established by Erichson, and adopted by Lacordaire, consists of a series of genera differing greatly one from another, and the association of which in one group does not satis- factorily express their differences and affinities. It must be admitted that Pachytricha in its general appearance, and in numerous points of its structure, differs much from all the other genera of the group ; and, if we bear this in mind, and recollect also, that the other genera to which it has affinities, viz., GlapJiyrus and Euchirus, are also very anomalous, and of difficult classification, I think we are warranted in concluding that we are here dealing with a genus which is less Bpecialized than most of the other genera of Lamellicorn Goleoptera, and one therefore which is, perhaps, the little changed descendant of one of the more primitive forms of the family Scarahceidce.
I have examined the position of the abdominal stigmata in the Bpecies characterized infra as P. minor, and adjoin their description, as well as some points that have escaped observation in the anatomy of the genus.
Abdominal stigmata two, thi'ee, and four, similar in shape to one another, moderately large, very open, elliptical, stigma three rather larger than two or four. Stigmatd two and three placed partly in the connecting membrane, and partly in the horny portion of the abdomen ; stigma four placed just in the horny portion close to the membrane ; etigma five placed also close to membrane, its position being similar to that of the fourth stigma, but it is smaller than that, though it is large and open. Stigma six is small and closed, scarcely quite so near the membrane as the fifth stigma, but yet very little distant therefrom. Stigma seven small, placed close to junction of the dorsal and ventral plates.
1874. 3
Prosternum furnished with an elongate narrow post-coxal process, which is extremely densely clothed with very long hairs.
Mesosternum produced between the middle coxa?, these placed closed to one another, and separated only by a thin lamina.
Posterior coxa? broader externally than internally ; their upper margin oblique in its direction, their outer and hinder angles acute.
I have been so fortunate as to accumulate from different sources nine individuals possessing the characters of the genus ; and, after carefully examining them, have concluded that these individuals are representatives of five different species ; it appears, moreover, to me that none of these specimens can be referred to P. castanea, Hope, the only species of the genus hitherto described ; I have, therefore, drawn up descriptions of these insects, and, in order to make the paper more complete, have copied and added to it the description of P. castanea.
These six species may be ai-ranged in two sections, readily dis- tinguished by the structure of the labrum, and which (if connecting links be not discovered) will, perhaps, ultimately be adopted as
distinct genera.
Section I.
Lalrum prqfunde (sed haud usque ad clypei marginem) emarginatum.
1. PACnTTEICHA MUNDA, Sp. n.
Nigro-picea, supra nifida, infra dense pallide lanosa, elytris festaceis, antennis 7'ufescentibus, protJiorace dense punctata ; tihiis iwsteriorihus in utroq^ue sexu minus incrassatis. Long. corp. 14 lin.
^ . tarsis anteriorihus, long. 6 lin.
5 . tarsis anteriorihus, long. 3.^ lin.
Head pitcliy-black, densclj' punctured. Thorax pitchy-black, phining, the sides densely punctured, the punctures being confluent and rugose ; the front part is closely punctured, the back part more sparingly and indistinctly punctured ; its breadth is nearly one and a half times its length, it has no hairs on its ujiper surface : scutcUum pitchy-black, indistinctly punctured. Elytra testaceous, smooth and shining, without distinct punctuation. Pygidium pitchy, without hairs. Under- side of the body quite woolly, being densely clothed witli palo, soft, long pubcseonco. The last segment of the abdomen without pale hairs. Legs pitchy-black.
This species has been sent from Swan River by Mr. Brewer.
The two specimens of it before me differ from one another in several respects, and some of these differences are no doubt sexual. In the specimen which I believe to be the male, the legs are longer than in the other, the difference being most notable in the front tarsi, and the three teeth on the front tibia? are less developed. The
4 [June,
pygidium is more deflexed, and the apical segment of tlie abdomen is smooth and shining in the middle, while in the female it is finely punctured, each puncture bearing a fine yellow hair.
2. PACHTTEICnA PALLEI^^S, Sp. n.
Nigro-picea, supra nitida, mfra dense paUidelanosa,elytris testaceis,
antennis riifescentibus, frotliornce dense p%mctato.
Long. Corp. 14 Un. ^ . tarsis anteriorihus, long. 6\ Un.
$ . adhuc incognita.
The only individual of this species before me evidently belongs to the male sex ; it is extremely similar to the male of P. mnnda, and differs from it as follows : it is a little narrower, and the elytra are shorter and more convex, the legs are more slender and a little shorter, the teeth on the front tibiae are less develpped, and the claws are notably smaller. The wool of the under-surface is not so long, and the abdomen is evidently more sparingly clothed.
North-West Australia : Mr. Du Boulay.
3. PACnTTniCHA EOBUSTA, sp. n.
Picea, supra nitida, infra dense pallide lanosa, elytris castanets, antennis rufescentihus, protliorace laterihus dense punctata.
Long. coip. 17 Un.
Of this very fine species I have but a single mutilated specimen before me ; this individual, though it has lost all its tarsi, and the club of its antcnnte, is,I think, a female, and there can be no doubt of its being a distinct species from P. munda. It is much larger, notably broader and more robust than that species, the punctuation of its thorax is not so dense, the punctures not being confluent except at the front angles, the labrum is longer and more prominent, the elytra are not BO smooth, and are darker in colour, the pygidium is broader, and has a deep impression at its extremity, the hind tibia? are more dilated at their extremity, the last segment of the abdomen is much broader and less conical in form ; and the fourth and fifth joints of the antennae are much longer than in P. munda. This character will probably offer an easy means of distinguishing the two species ; for in P. munda the fourth joint is only about as long as it is broad, while in P. rohusta it is much longer.
This specimen was named Pacliytricha castanea in the collection of Mr. W. W. Saunders ; but I find that it does not agree with "West- wood'd figure (Trans. Ent. Soc, iii, pl# xiii, f. 4), and is, I have no
1S74.} 5
doubt, a different epecica (I should judge Westwood's figure to represent a female). The only locality indicated for the specimen of P. rohusta was " AVest Austi'alia."
4. Pachtthicha castanea, Hope (Trans. Ent. Soc. Lond.,iii, p. 282, pi. xiii, f. 4). " Piceus, caplte valde acuminato sen melius sub-corniUo. Thorax " antice utrinq^ue spinosus, marginihus elevatis et punctatis. Scutellum " Iceve, postice rotundatum, piceum. Elytra castanea, posfice acuminata, '^^ podice triangulo dejiexo hrunneo. Corpus infra valde pilosum ; capillis
" cinerascentibus. Pedes picei et ciliati.
" Long. lin. 15, Int. lin. 5^. " Salitat in Nova Sollandid.
" This remarkable insect is from Australia, and appears to be a "genus intermediate between Olapliyr.us and Chasmatopterus.^'
Section II. Labrum omnino fissum. o. Pachyteicua tecta, sp. n.
Castanea, nitida, capita pedibusque piceis ; prothoracis lateribus et parte anteriore fortiter punctatis, lioc etiam hirsuto ; tibiis poster io rib us a^nce fort iter dilatatis. Long. 16 lin., hit 7i lin.
Head pitchy, rather coarsely and closely punctured, with a space in the middle leas punctured. Thorax shining, coarsely and rather closely punctured, except a largo space behind, which is nearly impunctate ; the front part is clothed with rather long and scanty hairs. Elytra chestnut-yellow, very shining, and very nearly im- punctate. Pygidium extremely finely punctured. Under-side densely clothed with woolly pubescence, except that the three or four apicul segments of the abdomen are bare. Legs pitchy, the teeth of the front tibim much developed, hinder libi© strongly dUated at the extremity.
Of this species I have before me three specimens from Free- mantlo ; they present no evident sexual distinctions, and I suspect them to be all females. I have also another specimen, coming, I believe, from the more northern parts of Australia, which is considerably smaller and narrower than the Freemantlc individuals, and has the tibia) not quite so stout : whether it be the male of P. tecta, or only a small individual of the female sex thereof, I am unable to say.
G. PAcnyxEiciiA minok, sp. n.
Supra castanea, subtus piceu, sid dense lanosa, pedibus piceis ; pro- thorace ccqualiter subtiliterquepunctato,elytris obsolete punctatis, pygidio crebre asperato-punctato. Long. 12 lin., lat. o[ hn.
Q [June,
Head darker aud more distinctly punctured than the rest of the upper-surface, with the line separating the clyjieus from the front very distinct. Thorax of a chestnut colour, shining, rather finely and evenly punctured, the punctures, however, rather coarser, and more numerous at the sides and front angles than elsewhere ; it is about oue-third broader than long. Scutellum distinctly punctured, but with the sides and apex smooth. Elytra obsoletely punctured, the punctuation near the ecutellum more distinct than elsewhere. Pygidium closely punctured, and furnished with fine hairs. Under surface with a thick woolly pubescence, except on the middle of the abdomen, where there is only a scanty pubescence. Legs pitchy, hinder tibise moderately dilated at the extremity.
I have seen only a single specimen of this insect, which cornea from North-West Australia ; its rough pygidium readily distinguishes it from the other species.
Thornhill, Dumfries :
26th March, 1874.
DESCEIPTIONS OF FIVE NEW LUCANOID COLEOPTERA. BY CHAS. O. WATEEnOTJSE.
1. Pbismognathus {Oyclorasis) angulaeis, sp, n.
? . Niger, nitidus, Capite pone oculos vix angustiore. Thorace sat crcTjre fortiter punctato, angtiUs antlcis pr'ominentihus. Elgtris crehre sat fortiter irregulariter punctatis, laterihus siihtilius obsolete punctulatis. Long. 9 lin.
Closely allied to P. platycephalus, the head is, however, somewhat narrower ; the neck being as it were swollen, the cj-cs are much less prominent than in that species, and the punctuation throughout is more distinct. The thorax is narrower, the anterior angles are very prominent, and the sides in front are less oblique ; the punctuation is moderately close and strong. The elytra present some indications of longitudinal impressed Unes ; the punctuation is moderately strong and close, and somewhat irregular, considerably less close and distinct than in P.platycephalus, and the sides are slightly opaque, obscurely aud very finely punctured.
Huh. Japan. Unique in coll. Gr. Lewis.
2. Doacus BiNODULOsus, sp. n.
$. D. Dehaanii aj/lnis ; niger, suhdcpressus. MandihuUs capite vix longioribus, arcuatis, apicihus acutis, ad basin supra dente triangulari retrorsum dii'ecto. Capite sub-piano subtilissime granulosa punctis aspo'sis, gcnis pone oculos rcctungiilaribus. Thorace dcpresso sub-
1874.] 7
tiJissime gmnuloso, laterihus marginihusque fortiter punctatis. Elytris sat nitidis, dorso distincte subtiliter striato-pimctatis, interstitiis 1 et 3 vix punctulatis ; laterihus, basi, apiceque crebre fortiter punctatis.
Long. 15 lin., mandib. 21 lin.
This species is closely allied to Dorcus Dehaanii. As I have seen but a single example, it is impossible to give characters which will separate its larger develop- ments from the allied species ; the presence, however, of two very small tubercles on the forehead (which are separated from each other by a space a little greater than t)ie width of the clypeus) will distinguish it from any specimen of the allied species wliich I have seen ; the cheeks behind the eyes being prominent and rectangular, and the elytra punctured in striae will also serve as distinctive characters.
Hab. Japan. Coll. G. Lewis.
3. FlGULUS INTEEEUPTUS, SJ). U.
Niger, nitidus. Ociilorum cantho antice vix angulato. Tliorace longitudine \-latiore, antice unituberculato, dorso Icevi, longitudinaliter fortiter canaliculato, latera versus sat crebre punctato, laterihus sub- parallelis, angulis posticis late rotundatis. Long. 5 lin.
Somewhat resembles F. Imvipennis, but by the form of the thorax belongs more to the second section of the genus. Head with the forehead concave, sparingly punctured, with foxir small tubercles, the posterior ones being very obscure ; the canthus is scarcely angular in front, slightly rounded at the sides. The thorax is one-fourth broader than long, convex, shining, moderately thickly punctured towards the sides, the anterior margin with a distinct tubercle ; the longitudinal clianncl is deep, and sparingly and obscurely punctured ; the anterior angles are scarcely at all prominent, the sides are scarcely rounded, the posterior angles are much rounded. The elytra are convex, impressed on each side of the suture, twice the length of, but scarcely as broad as, the thorax ; the stria) are nine in number, the second to fifth are strongly impressed at the base, gradually becoming less so towards tlie apex (which is smooth), and the punctures more apparent ; the sixth (humeral) stria is lightly im- pressed at the base, and somewhat strongly so posteriorly ; the seventh to ninth fltriiB are lightly impressed, distinctly and not very strongly punctured.
Rah. India. Coll. Brit. Mus.
4. FlQULUS NITENS, Sp. n.
Niger, nitidus. Gapite fere Iccvi, antice rufescenti, oculorum cantho rotundato. Tliorace longitudine l-latiore, latera versus crebre puncfu- lato, antice uninoduloso, in medio ct utrinque inter puncta fovcis irihus impresso ; aiifjulis anticis promimiUs, laterihus parallel is ; angulis posticis rotundatis. Elgtris striis novem, 2-0 fortiter impressis, 7-9 vix impressis, punctulatis. Long. 31: lin.
g [June,
Allied to F. Manillarum, but narrower, with less punctures on the thorax, and the ocular canthus rounded. Head Jalmosfc invisibly and sparingly punctured ; forehead concave with an obtuse tubercle on each side ; the ocular canthus rounded. The thorax is convex, shining ; the disc sparingly and extremely delicately punctured, towards the sides moderately thickly and strongly punctured, with a strongly punctured impression in the middle, and on each side there is a shallow impression among the lateral punctuation ; the anterior angles are very slightly prominent and obtuse ; the sides are nearly parallel, only very slightly narrowed posteriorly ; the hind angles are rounded. Elytra a trifle narrower than, and twice as long as, the thorax, the stria? are nine in number, the second to sixth are strongly impressed (except at the extreme apex), the fifth and sixth only visibly punctured, the interstices are gently convex, moderately thickly but not strongly punctured ; the seventh to ninth striae are scarcely impressed, distinctly but not very thickly punctured.
Hah. New South Wales. Coll. Major Parry.
5. MiTOPHTLLUS MAEMOEATUS, Sp. 11.
Niger, hrunneo-variegattis, plumheo-micans, squamidis fiavis inar- moratus ; tliorace laterihus pone medium angulatis, dein leviter emargi- natis, angulis posticis rectis. ElytHs fortiter irregulariter punctatis.
Long. 7 lin.
Closely resembles M. Parrianus, but easily separated from it by its being more convex than that species, and by the sides of the thorax behind the middle being gently emarginate, thus making the posterior angles rectangular. The thorax is thickly and very strongly punctured, with three smooth spots, two on the disc and one in the middle of the posterior margin ; the anterior angles are very slightly prominent, the sides are strongly angular rather behind the middle. The elytra are scarcely broader than the widest part of the thorax, conjointly rounded at the apex, the punctuation is very strong and moderately close, but somewhat irregular ; the yellowish scales, with which the insect is more or less covered, are shorter and broader than those in the allied species, and appear to be confined to the brown portions of the insect, leaving the blacker parts bare.
The male has the mandibles black, swollen at the base, with a deep reddish impression above, furnished also above near the apex with a strong tooth. The head is straight in front, with a strong tubercular projection in front of the eyes. In the fe- male, the head is longer and narrower, tlie eyes are smaller and less prominent, and the projection in front of the eyes is much less. The mandibles are much more straight and simple, the apices very acute, and tlie tubercle above is very small and acute.
Hab. New Zealand. Coll. Brit. Mus.
British Museum : May 7th, 1874.
187i.] 9
BRITISH EEMIPTEEA—ADDYnOl!f AL SPECIES.
BY J. W. DOUGLAS.
OCULATINA. SALDID2E.
Salda opacula. Salda opacula, Zett., Ins. Lap. 2G8, 12, 8 (1840) ; Thorns., Opiisc. iv, 407, 13 (1871) ; nee Ficb., Ent. Monats., vii, 62 (1SG3). „ costalis, F. SaWb., Geoc. Fenn., 152, 5 (1818) ; nee Tlioins.,
Opusc. iv, 406, 10. „ marginaJis, H.-Schf., Wanz., ix, 130, t. 306, fig. 943 {margmella in tab.) (1833) ; nee Fall, Flor, Stal ; nee 8. marginella, Fieb., Eur. Hem., 145, 8. Oval, black, with very short, fine, golden, silky pubescence. Pronofum — sides straight. Elytra dull ; anterior margin regularly and narrowly testaceous throughout, except at the base ; disc with long testaceous streaks, often obscure, and a posterior whitish spot.
Head shining ; clypeus — margin much incrassated towards the sides, whitish ; face •whitish ; eyes brown, large, much divergent posteriorly. Antennce black, 1st joint broadly testaceous on the inner side. Rostrum piceous.
Thorax : pronotum shining, trapeziform, sides straight, flattened, anterior callus large, convex, with one small, deep, central fovea, the adjoining posterior furrow deep. Scutellum shining, spotless, a largo wide fovea on the basal portion. Elytra dull ; clavus — posteriorly with an elongate testaceous spot ; coriutn — anterior margin flatly reflexed, especially at the base, and except the basal third and extreme apex, regularly linear-testaceous ; exterior to the black middle nerve the colour is broadly irregularly testaceous, becoming narrow posteriorly, where, on the exterior black area is a distinct, elongate, whitish spot ; beyond the nerve the colour is again broadly testaceous, interrupted in the middle, the basal part having a black, isolated dash giving the appearance of an ocellus, the posterior part clear ; more inwardly is a slender, sinuate, testaceous line not extending to base or apex, followed by a spot of the same colour, and another similar spot is on the inner posterior angle : some or all of the markings on the inner half of the corium are sometimes obliterated ; wie>«6raMe testaceous with black nerves, and sometimes a small black spot between them. Leys testaceous ; ihiyhs internally with darker spots ; tibicB base and apex, tarsi, last joint, black.
Abdomen black, shining, with golden pubescence, the poaterior margin of the last three or four segments pale testaceous. Length, li lines.
Several examples taken by Dr. F. Buchanan "White, at Braemar, in 1871.
S. opacula, Zett., is erroneously cited as a synonym of S. margi- nalis, Fall., by Fieber, /. c, by D. and S., Brit. Ilcm., i, 524, 6, and Strd, (Kf. Vet. Ak. Forh., 391, 8 (1S68).
IQ [June,
S. marginalis, Fall., is distinguished by its more ovate form, and Bpecially by the hamate mark on the inner side of the less regular pale margin of the elytra, as described in the " Brit. Hem.," I. c. In S. opacula, Zett., the yellow colour of the margin of the elytra is linear throughout.
Salda palustbis, n. sp.
Broad-oval, deep black, finely punctate, densely clothed with decumbent black hairs mixed with delicate, short, golden pubescence. Antennae black, 1st joint testaceous with brown or blackish spots, or externally black ; 2nd, testaceous towards the apex. Pi'onotum — sides slightly rounded. Elytra dull ; clavus with a spot towards the apex ; corimn, anterior margin in the middle with a long line followed by a shorter one, two spots on the disc, and one in the posterior inner angle, the middle nerve with a line on each side, the ocellate spot in- distinct,— all pale ochreous. Legs testaceous ; thighs black beneath, brown-spotted inside ; tihicB — outwardly with a black line.
Head shining ; clypeus margin slightly incrassated, mostly testaceous ; face testaceous, thickly clothed with golden hairs. Antennce black ; 1st joint testaceous, ex- ternally black ((?), or with blackish or brown cloudy spots (?). Rostrum piceous.
Thorax : pronotum shining ; sides slightly rounded ; anterior callus moderate, with one central fovea, and in front and behind a row of close, deep punctures. Scutellum with a sub-basal and a posterior depression, posterior portion crenulate. Elytra : clavus shining, a small spot towards the apex ; corium dull, the black decumbent hairs giving a rastrate appearance, anterior margin at the base flattened, crenate, in the middle a long narrow line followed by a short one not extending to the apex, the two being often connected by a stiU finer marginal line ; on the disc nearly opposite the lower end of the long line is a longish spot, and posterior to it a small one ; in the posterior inner angle an obhquo spot ; the usual ocellate ring faint and imperfect ; the middle nerve bordered, externally throughout by a very fine line, internally by a short broad one reacliing to the posterior margin — -all these markings pale ochieons; membrane pale ochreous, nerves strong, black, a long fuscous spot in each c^'ll, margin tinged ■with fuscous, but at the base, externally and internally, for some distance either wholly black, or with a basal pale line or spot. Legs testaceous, with black hairs and spines ; thighs beneath with a black line, inner side with brown spots ; iihicB outwardly with a black line from the base, short and spot-like in the third pair, apex black or blackish, spines on the thh'd pair longer and stronger ; tarsi, last joint with the apical fourth black.
Abdomen — beneath shining, densely clothed with pale golden or silvery pubescence.
Length, li — IJ line.
Some examples are almost wholly black, but the pale, narrow mar- ginal and middle lines of the corium are always more or less visible.
1874.] 11
The Bpecies belongs to the saltatoria group, but cannot be cannot be confounded with any other. It has been seen by Drs. Fieber, Stal, J. Sahlberg, and 0. Router, and is new to them.
I took one specimen on the shore at Southampton in September, 1863, and one at Bascombe Chine, near Bournemouth, in September, 1871 (E. ]\r. M., viii, 137), and several were captured last autumn in a marsh at Ilythe, near Southampton Water, among Spartina striata, by Mr. E. G. Keely, and kindly forwarded.
i Salda vestita, n. sp.
Broad-oval, brown-black, dull, densely clothed with fine, short, golden pubescence, and destitute of black hairs. Antenna; black, Ist joint testaceous, on the upper-side black ; 2nd testaceous, more or less obscured. Pro^wtum — sides slightly rounded. Clavus with a posterior pale spot ; coriuni at the base black, then, on the outer side, broadly ochreous, with a central irregular black spot, the light colour then narrow on the margin and again expanding aa a long spot, interior to this a rounded pale spot ; middle nerve black, posteriorly margined on each side with ochreous, a small spot at the inner angle, and one or two inwardly on the disc ; membrane pale ochreous ; nerves, a spot in each cell, and a large one near the apex of the outer cell, black. Legs testaceous, with dark lines and spots.
Head : clypeus — margin very slightly incrassated, ochreous or testaceous ; face testaceous. Antennce black, first joint testaceous, upper-side with a more or less distinct black line ; second obscure testaceous, tlic basal two-thirds mostly blackish. Eyes, black clouded with brown. Mostrum testaceous or piccous.
Thorax : pronotum — sides slightly rounded, margin narrowly flattened, scarcely ro- flexed ; anterior callus moderate, with one deep, central fovea. ScuteUum finely punctured, sub-basal depression wide and deep, posterior half crenulate, the depression slight. Elytra : clavus — posteriorly with a longish, pointed, ochreous spot, mostly also with a narrow linear spot on the posterior margin ; corium — anterior margin on the first half flattened, slightly reflexed, basal fourth black, then (except on the extreme edge) for more than one-third of tiie length ochreous, the colour extending inwards to the black middle nerve, and enclosing an irregular black spot, then continued (as a nUe) narrowly on the margin, and widened into a quadrangular spot which does not reach the apex ; on the disc opposite is an isolated, rounded, pale spot ; middle nerve on the posterior half bordered on the outer-side narrowly, on the inner-side broadly, with ochreous; the usual ocellus distinct, its black centre long and narrow ; between the ocellus and the clavus usually a short pale line, posteriorly on the disc two small, long spots, and one at the inner angle ; posterior margin wholly black ; membrane pale ochreous, nerves, and a long spot in each cell, black, margin outwardly shaded with fuscous, and, exterior to the lower end of the outer cell, u long
12 [June,
black spot. Legs testaceous, with black hairs ; thiglis broadly black beneath, sides with brown spots in a line ; tihicB black at base and apex, first and second pairs with a long, black line on the outside ; third, with fine, projecting, black spines ; tarsi, third joint black, but on the third pair, the posterior half only. Abdomen black, with golden pubescence on the under-side, the posterior mai'gin of the segments narrowly whitish. Length, (?, If, ? , 2 lines.
Several examples taken by Dr. Power, on the shore of Loch Leven in August, 1869 and 1870, and some, in the collection of Mr. T. J. Bold, by Mr. Hardy, in the Tyneside district.
The species belongs to the saltatoria group, and in the large ex- terior pale marking of the elytra bears some resemblance to S. stellata. Curt., but the form of the insect is longer-oval, and it is distinguished at once by the dulness of its surface, due to the dense pubescence, which peculiarity Dr. Power tells me struck him when he first saw his captures in his sweeping-net.
{To he continued).
NOTES ON BRITISH TORT RICES.
BY C. G. BARRETT.
{continued from Vol. x., ^. 2-47).
Garpocapsa Juliana, Curt. — My friend Mr. H. Waring Kidd bred a specimen of this species a few years ago from the "artichoke " galls of the oak (galls of Cynips quercus-gemmce) , but I think that this situation had only been selected by the larva for the purpose of spinning up. There is no evidence to show that the moth is in any sense an inquiline of the galls.
Carpocapsa nimhana, H.-S. — This is considered by Prof. Zcllcr and Dr. Wocke as a variety of juHana, but Herrich-Schiiffcr and Heinemaun describe it as distinct. It has not been introduced as a distinct species in the Ent. Annual, but is merely noticed (Ent. Ann., 1870, p. 131) as Juliana, var. The only specimens obtained in this country (as far as I am aware) were bred by Lord Walsingham from larvae found hibernating in cocoons under moss or leech trunks in Buckinghamshire. Now, as Juliana appears to be confined to oaJcs, and is rather widely distributed in this couiitr}^ there seems to be considerable evidence in favour of the distinctness of the two species ; I therefore append a description of nimhana.
Alar. Exp. 7 lines.
Head and palpi grey ; eyes black ; antennEc and thorax dark grey ; fore-wings slate colour to the middle, thence greyish-brown with scattered oclu'eous scales ; dorsal
1874.
13
blotch wliito, triangular, extending not more than half aeross the wing ; ocellus I bounded by two broad steel-bluo lines, and preceded by a black spot, in tlie middle ; of the wing ; costal streaks indistinct to the middle, distinct and white beyond ; cilia
shining, dark brown ; hind wings purplish -gi-cy ; cilia whitish ; abdomen iron-grey.
'j May be dlatiiiguished h'om. Juliana by the form of the fore-wings,
' whicli are rather more blunt at the apex than in that species, and by the shoi't triangular dorsal blotch. In Juliana this forms a long, curved I triangle reaching nearly to the apex of the wing.
Garpocapsa splendana, Iliibn.
1 Garpocapsa grossana, Haw. — According to my experience, this is
a scarce species, certainly very far less common than splendana. If, a.s Wilkinson asserts, it is common among beeches, it must be in restricted localities.
Garpocapsa pomoneJla, Linn. — I sec by a note in the " Zoological Record " that M. Laboulbene has stated in the Ann. Soc. Ent. France, that the larva of this species attacks nuts, and Mr. W. West, of Green- wich, tells me that he has reared the perfect insect from a larva which he found feeding in a walnut.
Garpocapsa funehr ana, Tr. — M. Jourdheuille states in his calendar that there is a brood of the larva of this species in May, feeding in the trunhs or stems — "tiges" — of plum. This mistake apparently arises from the fact that the larva? remain unchanged in the cocoons which they construct in the crevices of the bark until the spring, remaining but two or three weeks in the pupa state.
He also says that pomo7ie] la has sometimes two broods, probably for a similar reason.
OraphoUta albersana, Hiibn.
OrapJiolita uUcetana, Haw. — Dr. Wocke substitutes succedana, Frol. (the name by which it is generally known in Germany), but for what reason does not appear, Ilaworth's being decidedly the earlier name and entitled to precedence, unless, indeed, asseclana, Hiibn., a still older name — which probably refers to this species — be adopted.
It varies much in different localities. The dull grey form so ex- cessively abundant in this country, is comparatively scarce ou the Continent, and, indeed, in many parts quite unknown, the species being represented by paler varieties. These also occur frequently in Norfolk in company with the grey form, and seem to become commoner in the north. In Lancashire, a handsomely marked whitiHli form, with rich
14 [June, \
dark ocellua, occurs among Genista anglica, and is placed in some collections as a distinct species under the name of asseclana. The most brilliant specimen of this variety that I have seen was taken last summer on one of the Scottish mountains by Dr. F. Buchanan White. But for the connecting links, it would have be diiEcult to believe that this was the same species as our grey southern insect. On the Irish coast very large grey specimens occur, having also a peculiar appear- ance, and in some places there is a dwarf uuicolorous grey race, but all seem to be united by intermediate variations in .size and colour. The size seems to depend in some measure on the food-plant, the, smallest form being found among Lotus corniculatus, where there is' no furze, while there are some indication that colour is also affected by the same cause, the brighter varieties being found frequently among Genista anglica, Spartium scoparium, and Lotus.
To add to the confusion of synonyms in which this species is involved, the common grey form has been described by M. Constant (Ann. Soc. Ent. France, 1S65) under the name of micaceana. Speci- mens sent me by Mr. E. L Eagonot agree precisely with our insect.
GrapTiolita hypericana, Hiibn.
Grapholita viodestana, "Wilk. — {eemulana, Schl.), already noticed in the genus Catoptria (Ent. Mo. Mag., Vol. x, p. 8).
CrrapJioIifa microgrammana, Grn. — Zeller says this flies among Ononis. It is still scai'ce in this country, but has been taken in Ireland by Mr. Birchall, at Folkestone, and a few specimens at Great Yarmouth on the sand-hills.
Grapliolita Wimmerana, "Wilk. — This appears to be distinct from Wimmerana, Treitschke, which is described by him as greyish-fuscous with white markings, and figured by Ilerrich-Schaffer of an olive- brown with long white costal streaks, and a distinct white ocellus. It is probable that both authors refer to the same species, but certainly not to ours, which has borne the name. Under these circumstances, Mr. Doublcday, in the last Supplement to his List, substituted Mr. Dale's MS. name, maritimana, and in this I should have followed him, but, in examining some types of Continental Tortrices received from Prof. Zeller, I find that the paler specimens of our insect agree pre- cisely with t}^es of candiduJana, Nolck. This name must therefore be adopted, there being no figure or description published of mari- timana. Dale.
•Wilkinson's description is so good tjiat nothing need be added to
1874.) 15
it, except that the colour ia not eo constant aa he represents, there being considerable variation in the depth of the drab clouds and fuscous markings. Some examples taken by Mr. Howard Vaughan arc nearly- white. It is very possible that this variety may have been called lac- teann, Tr., by Stephens ; but lacteana, as figured by Herrich-Schiiffer, has a blue-grey dorsal blotch edged with grey ; the wings also are broader than those of candidulana, K^olck.
GraplwJita pupillana, Clerck.
Qrapliolita citrana, Hiibn. — M. Jourdhcuille says " larva in the lowers of Artemesia campestris.''^ This is one of the species which still exist on the ancient sea-sands of Brandon (now twenty miles from the sea). It is very common there, and seems to frequent Achillea, millefolium.
Splialeroptera icfericana, Haw. — Changed by Wocke to longana, Haw. This is Haworth's name for the ? , and occurs six pages earlier in his work than that of the ^ , hence the change. This, however, seems rather a severe stretch of the law of priority.
(Tb he continuedj.
Notes on captures of Coleoptera near Llangollen and Manchester. — During the past year, I found near Llangollen Lathrohium angusticoUe (under a stone on Griben Oernant) ; Telephorus unicolor and Juscus ; Balaninus villosus, hy beating; Opilus mollis under ash bark ; and a few Athous vittatus by sweeping ; and in the vicinity of Manchester, Choragus Sheppardi ; Ilaplocnemus nigricornis ; and a few Cis vestitus. — JoSEPn Chappell, 1, Naylar Street, Iluline, Manchester : 1th April, 1874.
A Irood of white-ants (Termites) at Kew. — Some time since, the Museum attached to the Eoyal Gardens at Kew received a portion of the trunk of the tree (Trachylobium HornmannianumJ that produces the gum copal of East Africa. Quito recently, this was found to be infested by a colony of white-ants, and living specimens of the insect (winged and in various apterous forms) were exhibited by Mr. Jackson, the Curator, at the la.st meeting of tlie Linnean Society, and of the Scientific Com- mittee of the Royal Horticultural Society. Through the kindness of Mr. Jackson, I have been able to make a preliminary examination of the insect, and find it to bo a species (not yet identified by me) of the genus Calotermes of Ilagen. The winged examples (unexpanded) are somewhat over Imlf-an-inch in length. It would probably be difficult to find anywhere in this country conditions more favourable to the development of white-ants than exist at Kew, and no place in which their ravages (if a colony were to be established) would bo of greater consequence ; it is to be hoped, therefore, that every precaution will be taken to avoid such a contingency. At pro-
IQ [June,
sent, tlic wood is enclosed in a glass jar, so as to afford an opportunity of obserring the habits of the creatures, this being probably the first time that any species has been found alive in this country. In the south of France, two small indigenous species do considerable damage, and a small North American species (Termes flavipes) had at one time estabhshed itself in the hothouses of the gardens of Schimbrunn, at Vienna, iirincipally infesting the tubs in which plants were growing. I know not if it still exist there. I hope, hereafter, to give additional notes on this interesting subject, and to bo able to add the specific name of the species, if it be described. — R. McLachlan, Lewisham : loth May, ISV-l'.
P.S. — Since the foregoing notes were written, I have made a more extended ex- amination of the insect, and think it to belong to an undeseribed species. It is allied to C. soUcIhs, Hagen, but is somewhat larger, darker in colour, and with a slightly different form of prothorax. The types of solidns are from childi-en's collection, with, unfortunately, no indication of locality. In his Monograph, Hagen, when de- scribing C. brevis, a species from Central and South America, speaks of two examples enclosed in copal. It seems to me scarcely probable that an American species should occur vuidcr such circumstances, and quite possible that these entombed individuals' may be identical specifically with those now bred from the wood of the copal tree, for C. brevis, although decidedly different, is yet allied, and a minute examination of insects enclosed in copal or amber is always attended by uncertainty. Two erroneous' names have been given for the Kew insect ; firstly that of Etdermes lateralis. Walker' {cf. Proc. Linn. Soc, May 7th, 1874), and E. nemoralis (cf. ' Nature,' No. 238, p. 57 ; probably a misprint, for there is no species of that name). — E. McL. : May 22iid, 1874.
iVb^e on Aphelochirus cBstivalis. — A specimen of this very interesting and rare Hemipterous insect was taken in the Bathampton Wick river (near Bath) on the 17th September, 1868, by E. C. Broome, Esq., and is now in the Local Natural History Collection of the Bath Institution. It is in the same condition (with rudi- mentary hcmielytra, and destitute of wings) as the individual I took long ago at Eynsham. — J. O. Westwood, Oxford : May, 1874.
Eupitheci<B tioo years in the pupa state. — With reference to the note in the May number of this Magazine on JE. dodoneata, I may state that my experience with expal- lidata is that more than half of the specimens I capture remain two years in the pupa. This happens continually, season after season. — John Hellins, Exeter : lUh May, 187-1.
Note on Eubolia Uneolata. — In my paper on Eubolia lineolata, I omitted to mention that in 1868 I had a spring brood of larvse, all the moths from which appeared as a summer flight in July, except one specimen, which remained over the winter, and did not appear until May 20th, 1869. — Id.
Note on Rhopalocera from Africa. — I have just received a very fine specimen of Papilio Antimachus (the third) taken by Mr. Rogers at the Gaboon, and several new species of which it is too late in the month to send descriptions. There are two examples of Pieris rapes, which it would puzzle the most microscopical species- maker to separate from ours. — W. C. IIewitson, Oatlands, Weybridge : May, 1874.
Confirmation of Dianthoecia aJhimacula as a British species, with description
I 1874.] 17
uf its larva, ij-c. — On July lOtli, 1873, I liad tho pleasure of recoiving from Mr. Stainton five larvfc in difFcrent stages of growth, which had been found feeding on the unripe seeds of Silene nutans by Mr. II. Moncreaff ; these I at once saw were a species of Diantkoecia new to me, and, on referring to an extract from the " Annales de la Societe Entomologique dc France " published in 1830, I found there an account of albimacula by il. Grucnee, which seemed to suit them well ; I would not, however' venture upon publishing the notes I made of them, until their identity had been established beyond doubt, and this has now been done most satisfactorily. Mr. Moncreaff has bred a specimen of albimacula as early as the 6th of May from the UarvoD ho collected last summer, by placing some of the pupae in a warm room. We are now sure, therefore, that albimacula is a species which breeds in England. For Isome years it had been relegated to the list of reputed British species (though Stainton's Manual kept it in its place), until the announcement of its re-discovery [\\ 18G5, by the capture of a single specimen, which was sent to Dr. Knaggs for identiflcation, as recorded in the 1st Volume of The Entomologists' Monthly [Magazine, p. 237.
The larvffi I hadj fed well on the Silene nutans that accompanied them, and soon
,to out the contents of the capsules of which Mr. Moncreaff kindly sent a further
supply, and when these dried up I found the three younger larvee (two having already
turned to pupa>) take very well both to Silene injlata and to maritima, and between
the l-±th and 25th of August they retired into the soil prepared for them.
The young larva when a quarter of an inch long is of a greenish-grey colour, and darker than it afterwards becomes ; at this time it has pale dorsal and sub-dorsal lines ; with a darker stripe along the spiracles, bounded above by a paler undulating line ; some faint darker marks along the back indicate the rudiments of the future dorsal design ; a pale stripe runs beneath the spii-acles, and the belly is darker greenish-grey. At its next moult, when about three-eighths of an inch long, the ground colour is cither a pale drab or pale ochreous-yellow with the design of dark grey or blackish diamond shapes and spots on the back tolerably distinct ; and, when it has attained the length of about three-quarters of an inch, the wliole pattern of its mai'kings is (as usual) more clearly defined than at any other period, com- posed as they are of closely aggregated greyish or blackish atoms, which, as the larva grows, become more dispersed with increasing intervals of the ground coloui- between them ; but in this clearly defined stage of marking the ground colour is ycUowish- ochreous, the dorsal pattern consists of a somewhat ovate blackish spot at the beginning, followed by a diamond or pear-shape extending to the end of each seg- ment ; the front half of each of these pears or diamonds is rather bare of freckles within its outline, showing the ground colour there more or less, while the hinder part is fdlcd up so as to look blackish, the anterior pairs of tubercular black dots show distinct on the clear unfrecklcd ground of the back, the hinder pairs of dots are often attached to the lateral angles of the diamond shapes, but not invariably 60, though tlu-y arc always touched by a blackish line of freckles that curves or festoons along from the hinder dot of one segment (o the hinder dot of the next ; beneath this is the sub-dorsal intci-val of clear and paler ground colour ; and then come two broad and irrcgidarly thickened stripes of freckles, which about the middle of each segment slope towards each other till they touch, then returning to their previous level ; the groiuid in the space just below the point of contiicl in (ilUd with firekles wliieli i>arti} surnuuid (lie white spiracle outlined with liiiiek.
18 [June,
Tlie larva, when full-grown, measures one and u quarter inches in length, is of moderate stoutness, cylindrieal, with the head a trifle smaller than the second seg- ment, which is in turn a little less than the third, the anal segment tapering a little behind : its ground colour now is pale ochreous or pale brownish-ochreous, the head is delicately freckled and streaked with dark brown down the front of each lobe, the second segment has ,a dark brown or brownish-grey plate through which the fine dorsal and broader sub-dorsal lines of ground colour are risible ; on the rest the dorsal line can be faintly discerned as a fine tliread of ground colour running through the dorsal blackish spots and ill defined pear-shapes that follow them, both front and hind pair of black dots are now equally distinct on the back of each segment, a similar dot is situated a little above each spiracle, which last is whitish faintly out- lined with black ; a patch of dark grey or blackish freckles anteriorly in the sub-dorsal region, and some broken patches of lines of freckles extending in curves to the spiracidar region on each segment are now the only remains of the design mentioned in the previous stage ; this change having been brought about by the scattering ol the dark atoms which before were confined in lines ; the belly and legs are of the gromid coloiu'.
As will be seen from what follows, there is considei-able resemblance between this larva and some of its congeners, but to my eye its most striking characteristic is the absence of the slanting streaks or chevrons which tJiet/ so generally have.
The pupa is little more than five-eighths of an inch long, stout in proportion, the wing, antennse, and trunk cases projecting in a blunt point over the abdomen, which tapers off gradually ; the abdominal rings are partly gi-auulous ; the colour of the thorax and wing cases is deep reddish-brown, the abdomen dark brown.
M. Quen^e has observed of the larva of albimacula that " in a manner it i-e- " sembles that of capsincola, and when they are together on the same plant they " afford fine exercise for the eyes to distinguish them."
" It is found upon Silene nutans, and sometimes, but much more i-arely, on " Silene inflata. In captivity it accommodates itself well to these two plants, also " to Lychnis dioica."
" This caterpillar is not rare where Silene nutans grow, that is to say in the arid " and hilly places of certain woods." — Wm. Bucklee, Emsworth : Mai/ 11th, 1874.
Cosmopteryx Scribaiella bred. — Professor Frey of Zurich, writes to me that on the morning of the 25th April, he bred nine specimens of C. Scribaiella !
Last September he had suggested to Herr Boll of Bremgarten, that he should search the reeds (Arundo phragmites) in that neighbourhood for the chance of finding larva) of Cosmopteryx Lienigiella. Herr Boll found some mines in September, and thereby Professor Frey was himself attracted to Bremgarten ; and he and Herr Boll, early in October, found these mines on the reeds very common along the banks of the Eeuss, and they could have collected them by hundreds in a day. Being, however, firmly convinced they were only collecting the already well-known larva of C. Lienigiella, they soon desisted from collecting more, and now C. Scribaiella has been bred from these reed-miners.
Descriptions of this insect will be found in the Stettin. Entomolog. Zeitung, 1850, p. 197 ; in Herrich-Schiiffer, V. p. 281, fig. 998 ; in tlie Transactions of the Entomological Society of London, 3rd Scries, Vol. I. pp. 612, 6-io, and G51. It will
1874.] 19
be sufRciont hero to rcniiiul the reader that in Scrihaiella the ground coloxir of the anterior wings is brown, witli three slender longitudinal silvery streaks in the basal portion of the wing (in that respect resembling LleniijiellaJ, and that the outer margin of tlie dark yellow central fascia is ruptured a little above the middle of the wing, and the orange-yellow colour protrudes through it.
It was only on the 2nd of April this year, that I received, through IM. Kagonot, a specimen of this insect for determination, which he had fouud among some incog- nita captured by M. Constant, of Autun, and the sight of this led me to hope that ere long the larva would be discovered, but I little expected I should record its dis- covery so soon. — n. T. Staixton, Mountsfield, Lcwisham ; May Gth, 1874.
Eudorea coarctalis hihernating. — Is it generally known that the ILudorecB hibernate ? On the 20th of April I took two spccira_cns of this species on Farrington moss near here ; this is an August species with us. May not the Crambus ocellea that have been taken near Liverpool during the early months of the year have hiber- nated, and ought to have been looked for in August or September ? I ought to add that the hibernated coarctalis were females. — J. ]3. IIodg kinson, Preston : 3Iay, 1874.
JEarly appearance of Catoptria aspidiscana, Sfc. — The very hot weather preceding the 2nd of May, tempted me to pay a visit to my old hunting grounds at Grange- ovcr-Sands and Withcrslack. The day, with a cold wind from the north, was not a very likely one for captures ; however, in a snug sheltered corner with a fair amount of sun, I made a tolerably good bag of wood whites, brimstones, speckled woods, duke fritillaries, argiolus blues, and orange tips, and saw three of the common whites quite busy enjoying the warmth. As I was eagerly watching for some small fry to appear, up crept two moths out of the roots of the golden rod at my feet ; I netted both at once — two asp)idiscana, both males. I walked up and down for four hours, and took five more males and one female in beautifid condition. I may here note they are not to be trusted long in a piU box without damaging themselves, so I chloroformed them at once, and pinned them. There was nothing else of note out. P. Letoenhoeclcella, DicrorampJia plumlana, a few Litho- colleles, also Cemiostoma laliunieUa, and an Elachisla, which must be a new one : it is certainly not nigrclla, the antennae are so thick, and the wings arc covered with thicker scales than any of the others that I know. In the same place I got some Coleophora cases which are quite new to me, not unlike or vviihcrhctviQcn i-iminetella and nigricella ; much larger than the latter. I expect they will bo or&e7<?//a. They are feeding on the mountain-ash. Journeying on a few miles to Withcrslack, I spent two more days, and scarcely saw an insect. The weather being bitterly cold, only £. in- dayala, P. variata, Incurvaria ZincJcenii, Phoxopteryx uncana, Qracilaria aurogutella, and a few Kepiicttla turned out, or rather I made them do so with hard beating ; a few larvsc of Plerophorttn tcphradactylus on the golden rod in shady places where their presence may easily be seen ; they strip the leaves quite as much as a large Xocfua larva or a snail does. Among the shoots of mountain nsh I got a good number of Aryy- resthia spiniella, and a few more Coleophorct, the same as at Grange. A lot of Laverna rham>nella,and some young S. siynatana larva), and some T. J'erhueUellaoS. the ferns closed up my journeying. I may except Nola cristulalis, which, as usual, was sitting head downwards. I never saw this earlier than 20th May. — Id.
20 [June,
Dbituarg.
Dr. Herrich-Schdffer. — We announced •with great regret on the wrapper of our last number the death of Dr. Gottlieb August Herrich-SchafEer, of Eatisbon, on the 14th April.
Dr. Ilerrich-Schaffer was born in 1799, and till 1871 retained all the activity of a younger man ; but in that year he had two paralytic strokes, from the effects of which ho never thoroiighly rallied, and latterly, he had been afflicted with softening of the brain, and his case had been for some time considered perfectly hopeless.
Dr. ncrrich-Schiiffer was an hereditary entomologist ; his grandfather. Dr. J. C. Schiiffer was a voluminous writer on insects from 1752 to 1779, and is perhaps best known by his " Icones Insectorum circa Eatisbonam," a quarto work with one hundred and eighty coloured plates.
Dr. J. C. Schiiffer's son, the father of Hcrrich-Schiiffer, contributed fifty pages on " Insecta " to a medical work on Eatisbon, and thus just obtained a place in Hagen's Bibliography ; but the labours of the grandfather were quite eclipsed by those of the grandson whose loss we now deplore.
Herrich-Schilffcr, bom in 1799, obtained his Doctor's degree in 1821, and in the same year appeared his first entomological publication, " De generatione insectorum partibusquc ei inservientibus," and eight years later we find him occupied with a continuation of Panzer's " Faima insectorum Germanise," which continued to appear till 1841'.
In 1836, he commenced a continuation of Hahn's " Wanzenartigen Insectcn," which continued till 1853. His great work was, however, the " Systematische Bear- beitung der Schmcttcrlinge von Europa," intended as a supplement and completion of Hiibner's " Samralung curopaisehcr Schmettcrlinge." This work, commenced in 1843 and continued to 1856, is in six volumes quarto, with six hundred and seventy- two plates, of which six hundred and thirty-six are coloured. It is a real monument of labour and industry. From the year 1847 forwai-ds, he was a very frequent writer in the " Correspondenzblatt des zoologisch mineralogisch Vercins in Ecgensburg." In 18G1 he started a monthly periodical exclusively for entomology, " Correspondenz- blatt fiir Sammlcr von Insccten insbcsondcre von Schmetterlingen," and of this he wrote nearly the whole. In addition to all his literary productions, he was a keen practical collector, and made frequent visits to the Swiss Alps, aud rarely failed to attend the annual meetings of German Naturalists.
In Eatisbon he was in busy practice as a Physician, and in 1871, on the occasion of the celebration of the fiftieth Anniversary (Jubilee) of his obtaining his Doctor's degree, he was presented with the freedom of his native city.
Dr. Herrich-SchiilTcr visited England in 1851, attracted hither by the fame of the Great Exhibition.
Thomas John Bold. — It is with the most sincere regret that we chronicle tlic loss of this well-known British entomologist, who died, after a short ailment, at his residence, Long Benton, near Newcastlc-on-Tync, on the 5th ult., in the 58th year of his age. He died ux harness (though labouring for more than seven years under
1874.1 21
paraljsif, which doprivcd him of the power of locomotion), being actually engaged at tlio time of his decease upon a catalogue of the TenthredinidcB of the Nortluunbrian district, and having published some observations in this Magazine so late as the 7th IVIarch last. As an entomologist, his name is familiar to those of the present and last generations (with all genuine workers of which he corresponded), since he never ceased from the task of recording and elucidating the insect-fauna of his district for tliirty years before his death, and his notes on the habits, &c., of insects of all orders arc scattered over the pages of the Transactions of the Local Societies to which he belonged, of the " Zoologist," and of this Magazine (in the latter, no less than fifty- six in number). The " Catalogue of the Insects of Northumberland and Durham, Coleoptera," piiblished by Mr. J. Hardy and himself in the Transactions of the Tyneside Naturalists' Field Club, 1852, was, however, the first of the more important works with which his name will be connected, and which are not the least valuable of the services which that Society (perhaps the best of all British Local Associations) has rendered to practical science. Mr. Bold from time to time in 1864, 1865, and 1867, published various corrections and additions to this list, and finally, in 1871, in the Natural History Transactions of Northumberland and Durham, Vol. iv, entirely reconstructed it ; following it up with a similar catalogue of the iremiptera-Hete- roptera of the district, and a list of the JLomoptera new- to Northumberland. lie also carefully investigated the Heterogyna, Fossores, and Anthophila of the same district, and was collecting literary and other materials for a similar elaboration of the IchneuvionidcB. Although not a descriptive Naturalist (only two species founded by him occur to us : Macrocoleus Ilardyi in Ilemiptera, and Scymnus lividus in ColeopteraJ, we are practically indebted to him for the addition to the British fauna list of Pompilus melanarius, Passaloecus monilicornis, and Strongylogaster jilicis (Hymenoplera), and Anchomenus 4-punctatus, Bemhidiiim Fockii, A-signatitm, ohliqitum, and ScJiitppelli, Ilalipliis rariits, Colymbetes dispar, Phytosiis nigriventris (balticusj, Aleochara villosa, Tachyusacarhonaria, Mycetoponts lo7igtcIits, Bryoporns castaneiis (practically a new species), Platystethus capita, Meligethes hrunnicornis, Cryptophagus ladius,fumatus, dentatus, and validus, Ephistemus glohosiis, Anom- matiis \2-striatiis, Aphodius foelidtis, and Plaps mortisaga (ColeopteraJ .
Mr. Bold was born near Tanficld, Durham, in September, 1816, and from his 18th year resided in or near Newcastle, being engaged in the seed trade. In retire- ment, he taught himself French, Latin, and German enough for entomological purposes, and gradually acquired a working library of works in those languages. He was indcfatigably industrious, of a generous disposition, ever ready to assist others, and incapa])le of enduring a " sham," or the appearance of insincerity. The work of a local faunist, humble enough in cdmparison with higher aims, was never- theless ennobled by him, for he did it with his whole heart, and did it well : nor was his genuine worth unnoticed in his own country, for he was Vice-President of the Tyneside Naturalists' Field Club, Associate and Honorary Entomological Curator of the Natural History Society of Northumberland, &c., and Honorary Member of the Literary and Philosophical Society of Newcastle. It is to be hoped that those Associations may find a successor able and willing to complete the work he had so well carried on, and so nearly completed.
22 bfune,
NOTES ON CTCINDELIBJE AND CARABIDM, AND DESCRIPTIONS OP NEW SPECIES (No. 17).
(Resumed from vol. ix, p. 52.J BY H. W. BATES, F.L.S., &c.
Sub-family CARABiNiE. Nebria Lewist, s^-). n.
N. lividce (L.) affinis, at minor et gracilior. I]Jongato-obJon(ja, ochraceo-fulva ; collo, thoracis disco, plagaque magna elytroriim discoi- dali commnni, ct jyectore, nigris ; tJioraceIo7igius cordato, angulis posticis jiroductis, acutis ; elytris iaterstitio tertio impunctato, quartoque apice valde elcvato. Long. 5^ lin.
Smaller and more slender than N. livida ; in colour it differs in tlie liead having only the broad neck, up to the posterior margin of the eyes, black ; in the thorax having its whole central part of the same colour, leaving the lateral borders pale ; and in the elytra being pale, with a large rounded black patch behind the middle, continued some- times along the suture to the base. The thorax differs in form in being longer and less transverse, with the posterior narrowing much more gradual, and the huid angles more turned outwards ; the borders are punctured in a similar way. The elytra are quite parallel, and vnth shoulders quite as well marked as in iV. livida, but the striae are finer and more sharply scored, finely punctulate in their bottom, and the inter- stices show no punctuation. Beneath black, with the apical part of the abdomen tawny.
Kawatclii, Japan. Sent home by Mr. Gr. Lewis's native collector.
Nebria elliptipejwis, sp. n.
N. intricatcB qffinis, srd magis elongata, elytris clongato-eVipticis sericeo-opacis, striis vix punctulatis. Elongata, piceo-nigra ; capite ut in N. intricata, sod oculis 2)fiilo minus p)^'0')ninulis ; thorace cordato, postice gradatim angustato, aiigiilis posticis retrorsiim spectantihus ; elytris sericeo-opacis, humeris fortiter rotundatis, medio parallel is, supra striatis, striis vix punctulatis. Long. 7 lin. ? .
Nearest resembling iV. intricata, at least in the form of the head and thorax, but the elytra more elongated, with much rounder or more effaced shoulders and wilh stri;r almost simple, a fine punctu- ation shoAving only under the lens. The colour is black, rufescent pitchy beneath, and with sub-opaque silky elytra. The head has a red spot on the crown, and is punctulate and rugulose ; the eyes are moderately prominent, and the neck is not narrowed. The palpi arc
1874.J 23
pitchy-red. The thorax is rather more cordate than in JST. intricata ; the anterior angles are moderately produced and acute ; the posterior angles are not at all turned outwards, but arc prolonged posteriorly, so that the base appears strongly quadrate-emarginate. The elytra arc elliptical rather than oblong, and are not dilated posteriorly ; the interstices arc very slightly convex, the third having three punctures, and the fourth is cariuated at the apex.
Kurdistan.
I have failed to find any description by Falderman, Chaudoir, Fischer and others, that applies in any degree to this species.
Nebkia crassiceps, sp. n.
]\Iagna, elongato-ohlonr/a, deprcssa, ni(jrn, suhsericea ; cnp)itemngno, exserfo, collo crasso, convexo, oculis ^jrt/v/.s', haud prominulis ; thorace transvcrso, postice fortiter slnuatim an(just(tto, aiKjuUs omnibus acuiis ; elytris punctulato-striatis, hiimeris obtusia. Long. 9 I'm.
Allied to N. Marchalli, the head and thorax being of similar form ; but the general form is more elongate and oblong, with perfectly oblong elytra, and the colour is black. The head is large, and very long and thick behind, with small flattened eyes ; and its surface is very finely punctulated. The thorax is much shorter and broader than in iV. Marchalli ; the anterior angles are remarkably produced, almost as much as in N. dilatata ; from the middle, the sides are strongly sinuate-angustate, with out-turned and acute posterior angles and nearly straightly truncated base ; the lateral margins are broadly explanate, with the marginal rims thick and raised. The elytra are oblong, quite parallel, from the obtuse but distinct shoulders to near the apex, and distinctly punctate-striated ; there arc no distinct punc- tures on the third interstice, and tlio fourth is not carinated at the apex.
Kurdistan.
Sub-family Ozjexinje.
OziENA MAGNA, Sp. n.
Maxivie elongata, anrjuste jynrallelor/rammicn, nigra^ nilidn ; antcn- nis hrevihus, crassis, sub-comprcssis, nudis, nitidis, grossc j^unctatis, articulis 7-10 intus fovea, ll'"" marginibas, minute 2>orosi>i ; ihornce paulo transversa, rpiadralo, postice sinuatim paulo anrjuslali), nngulis poslicis fere rectis,supr!^i cum capite sp)arsim punctato ; clglrisovuiino parallclis, fortitcr punctulato-striatis, interstitiis omnibus sparsim 2)tinctulatis ; femorihus anticis ( ^ ) haud dcntutis. Long. 9i tin. ? .
1 place this and the following species in the restricted genus
2-j. [June, 1S74.
Ozccna, almost solely ou account of the naked antenna; ; in tlie length of these organs they differ much from Ozcena, as defined by Baron Chaudoir, the proportion being scarcely one-third the length of the body, whereas in Ozcena it is more than one-half. The absence of the usual porosity of the antennal joints (from the 5th to the 11th) seems to me a much more important character, and in this they agree with O. dentipes, and differ from all other genera of the group. O. magna also has a pencil of hairs on the back of the maxillae near the tip, which does not exist in Pacliijletes. The palpi are short and thick, with the apical joints dilated. The porosity of the antennae exists in O. magna in a very concentrated state, being confined to a very small pit on each surface of the 7th to the 10th antennal joints near their compressed inner edge, and to the bevelled margins of the large ovate terminal joint.
The whole insect is deep glossy -black ; the head and thorax sprinkled with fine distinct punctures, and the latter also transversely wrinkled. The form of the thorax is transverse cordate-quadrate, with the lateral sinuation well marked, and the hind angles turned outwards, but not acute, being scarcely rectangular. The eyes are very prominent, and the head narrowed to a nock almost immediately behind them.
Sao Paulo de Olivenca ; Upper Amazons. One example, which flew at night to a light in my chamber.
OziENA BEEVICOENIS, Sp. n.
Aiiguste parallelogrammica, elongata, nigra, nitida ; antennis brcvi- lics, crassis, glahris, punctatis, articulis G-10 hrevissimis et latissimis, Q-IO foveis 11 viargine, porosis ; tliorace transversim quadrato-cordato, postice liaud sinnato, angulis ohtiisis, haud prominulis ; elytris fort iter punctulato-sfriatis, interstitiis omnihus sp>arsissime punctulatis.
Long. 8 lin. $ .
Differs from O. magna in the antenna> being shorter, and the joints 6 to 10 much broader and shorter. The thorax also differs in the hind angles not being recurved outwards, nor preceded by a sinu- ation of the sides. The thorax and the interstices of the elytra have fewer fine punctures.
Peru ; one example.
The above-described species are further distinguished from Pachyteles, Seythropasus, &c., by the simple large cmargiuation of the anterior tibia?, without projecting upper lobe or tooth, and by the pi'osence of a narrow grooved mcsosternum between the middle coxa% the-mctasteruum projecting in a very loyg nari'ow process.
July, 1874] 2.')
Paciiyteles setifer, sj). n.
P. fiJifonni proxime ajfinis^ at elyfris triscriativi sctosis differt. EJongatus, linearis, castanco-fuscus, anfcnnis hasi, oris i^firtibus thora- cisqiic mcirgine 7'iifo-castaneis ; pedihus, sutura margine(pce elj/trorum paitJo 2)(iUidioribus ; clj/tris iitrinque scfis lonrjis in scrichus trihus ordinatis. Long. 5^ Un.
Of the same narrow linear form as P.JiJi/ormis, Casteln. Head and antenna^ of similar form and proportions ; thorax quadrate, slightly narrowed behind, but without the sinuation visible in P.JiUformis, the narrowing being straight to the tip of the hind angles, which project beyond the basal line of the thorax ; the sides anteriorly bear a number of setigerous punctures : the surface is faintly wrinkled. The elytra have extremely fine puctnlate stria?, and the 1st, 3rd, and 5th interstices bear each a lino of very long erect hairs, which are particularly numerous on the 3rd, reaching from base to apex.
Macas ; Equador (Mr. Buckley).
Pachtteles oos^iadeeus, sp. n.
Ohlongiis, fulvus, nitidus ; tliorace lata, postice valde ayigustato, angulis a7iticis longe producfis, acutis, posticis rectis, lafcrihus late ex- 2)lanatis ; elytris striatis, interstitiis alternis convexis te?'tio et qtiinto 2)unctatis, ccitcris Iccvihus. Long. 4 Jin.
In general form much resembling P. Icevigatus, Dej. The thorax is very similar, differing chiefly in the much more produced anterior angles, which are a little turned outwards. The fine puuctulated striae of the elytra are nearly the same, but owing to the strong elevation of many of the interstices, they seem much more deeply sunk, and on the sides (which are sericeous-opaque) they are irregular. The anteunte are decidedly longer, owing to the more oblong form of its joints.
Ega.
Paciiyteles r^^DULATUs, sp. n.
Ohlongiis, tfisfacro-riij'us, nitidus, eh/tris disco fuscis ; tlioracfi trans- rfvso, rnigi/lis anticis producfis acufissimis, jyosticis acutis, latcrihus undulatis, suprci sjyarsim grossissime punctata ; eh/tris usque ad mar- ginefn grosse 2)U7ictato-striatis. Long. 3 lin.
Differs from P. goniadrrus by the largo punctures sparingly scattered over the otherwise glossy, smooth thorax, and by the undu- lated lateral edges, wiiich form at irregular intervals distinct angles; the edge is markedly sinuated close behind the sharp anterior angles ;
26 r.iuiy,
the posterior angles are also sharp and project a little outwards, the hind margin being straight. The elytra are rather strongly punctate- striate, even to the lateral margins, where there is no smooth sub- opaque space ; most of the interstices are convex, and the third has a row of fine setiferous punctures. Ega.
Pachtteles FuscuLirs, sp. n.
Castaneo-fuscus, suh-nitidiis ; capife angusHore., ocnJis parum promi- nulis ; thornce transverso, cordato, angulis anticis rectis, posticis aciitis, supra transversim strigoso ; eh/trisfortiter punctulato-striatis, interstitiis p^us minusve pu7ictatis, striis apud latera confusis. Long. 3| lin.
Differs from P. Icevigatus, granulatus, and allies, by the less prominent eyes, in which it exactly resembles P. margimcollis of Chili. The general colour is uniform chestnut-brown, the elytra having no trace of other colour ; but the head is blacker and the legs redder. The anterior angles of the thorax are not in the slightest produced, but they form a very pronounced rectangle. Nearly all the interstices of the elytra have a row of conspicuous punctures.
Ega ; Amazons.
Pachtteles Tapajo>'us, sj). n.
P. Icevigato (Dej.) jyroxitne ajffinis, dijfert solum thorace Jatiori, elytrisque fortius punctulaio-striatis. Long. 2>\ lin.
Of the same oblong foi*m as P. Icevigatus. Chestnut-red ; head behind blackish, disc of each elytron dusky-brown. Thorax transverse, quadrate-cordate, anterior angles very slightly prominent, sides slightly incurved behind them, thence rotundate-dilated (slightly undulated), behind rather strongly sinuate-angustate, hind angles rectangular ; disc smooth. Elytra with well marked punctulate striae, interstices slightly convex, 3rd and 5th with a few fine setiferous punctures, sides sericeous-opaque. The antenna) are moderately short and thick, as in P. Icevigatus.
R. Tapajos ; Amazona.
Pacuyteles Perutiaxus, sp. n.
P. Icevigato simillimus, at paitlo anguslior et ohscurior, eli/tris dislincte stricito-punct uhttis. Long. 3^ lin.
The colour of the upper surface is chestnut-brown, with the head behind blacker, but the thorax not reddish as in P. loBvigatus and P. Tttpdjoiivs ; the elytra too liave not the distiiu't reddish sutural
1S74.] 27
bonier, the extreme sutural margin only being ratlier pale. The head and antenna) show no difference from P. hrvigntiis. The thorax al^o is precisely similar, being quadrate-cordate, ■with sharp anterior and posterior angles, the former veiy slightly produced with a sinuation in the sides behind them. The elytra arc narrower, and more parallel ; witli rows of fine punctures, not distinctly impressed in stri;p, and interstices perfectly plane and not so glossy as in P. Iceingatus ; the 3rd and 5th interstices have a few inconspicuous punctures. E. Huallaga; Peru (Mr. Eartlett).
PACnYTELES SULCIPENNIS, SJ). n.
JP. grannJato ajjinis ; thoracs glahro grosse sparsim punctato differt. Gonvexus, castaneo-riifus, nifidus, capife posticefusco ; elyfris omnino profunde sulcatis, sidcis fundo punctulatis, interstitiis convexis nitidis, pleru7nque seriatim punctaf is. Long. 3i lin.
The head, as in P. gramdatus, is strongly constricted behind the eyes ; the bottom of the constriction is rugose, and the convex middle of the forehead smooth. The thorax is transverse-quadrate, not so much narrowed behind as in P. IcBvigatus and allies ; all the angles nearly rectangular, the sides slightly sinuated behind the anterior angles, and their edges undulated; the surface is sprinkled throughout with large round punctures. The sulci of the elytra are deep even on the sides and up to the wheal at tlic apex of the elytra ; their punctu- ation crenulates the sides ; but the summits of the interstices are glossy and smooth, with a row of punctures on most of them.
Ega. This species must be nearly allied to P. distinctus (Chaud.), but that is described as having the thorax " ad latera tantum nonuihil punctatus."
Paciitteles aspericollis, sp. n.
Elongdto-ohlongus, caslaneo-rufus, elytris nigris poJitis ; capite et thoracc elytris plus qunm dimidio angusliorihus, densissime scahrosis opacis, hoc laterihus muUidentatis ; elglris punctidato-stritttis, inter- s/i/iis platiis. Long. ',i\ lin.
A remarkable species, somewhat resembling P. gramdatus in the sculpture, but not in the form of the thorax, which is narrow, sub- cordate, narrowed only near the base; its anlerior angles are nuich produced forward and acute, its sides are scarcely rounded and dilated, and present a scries of three or four dentiform projections with corresponding sharp notches, and the whole surface is densely sculptured and clothed with ereci h.'iirs. The head is s^imiljirly sculptured From
28 ^f"'?"-
the neck to the epistome, and the usual depressions are not visible. The antenna? are moderately short and densely setose. The elytra are glabrous and shining, with regular punctulate stria;, and perfectly plane interstices, the 3rd and 5th of which have a row of minute setiferous punctures. The anterior thighs have a strong broad tooth beneath. Tunantins ; Upper Amazons.
Pachtteles fulighs-elltjs, sp. n.
P. GyUenliaJii (Dej.) proxime ajjinis. Omnino fuligineo-niger, hreviter setosus ; thorace quadrato, basin versus paruvi sinuatim angus- tato, angnlis ant ids acufis, postieis recti's; elytris punctulato-striatis, intcrstitlis flcrumque convexis. Long. 2\ lin.
Differs from P. GyJlcnhaUi almost solely in the sooty-black colour of its whole upper-surface and limbs ; the under-surface being rufo- piceous. Above, the body is covered with short erect setse implanted in fine punctures. The head has a few large scattered punctures. The thorax has extremely narrow lateral margins and is very little rounded anteriorly, and narrowed only very near the hind augles. The elytra have the punctured sti'ise more deeply sunk, or, rather, the iustertices more convex.
Chontales, Nicaragua.
Bartholomew Road, Kentish Town, N.W. : May, 187'A.
NOTES ON BRITISH TORTRICJBS. BY C. G. BAEEETT.
{continued from p. 15).
Cnephasia cinctann, Schiff. — Dr. "VVocke removes this from the CnephasiiJa', placing it in the genus LopJioderus, near to ministrana, L.
Cnephasia Tiyhridana, Hiibn. — Heincmann seems to have fallen into an error here, in wliich Prof. Zeller is inclined to follow him. They both refer our Jiylridana to allulana, Tr., and call a closely allied Btraw coloured species Jiybridafia. Iliibner does not confirm this, as his figure of hyhridana represents a grey example of our insect. Moreover, Dr. Wocke quotes mrvifascia^ia and rectifasciann of Ilaworth and Stephens as synonyms of hyhridana, lliibn., and they are without doubt the ^ and ? of our species. This has been confirmed by M. Guenec, to whom Mr. Doubleday sent specimens.
AVotke removes hyhridana into the genus OJindia (with rihnana).
1874.] Of)
autl make3 albuhtnn, Tr., a variety of it. If this be correct, the varia- tion is verj extraordinary. The other species of the genus Cnephasia (witli the exception perhaps of nuhilana) are bo deeply involved in difficulty from the extraordinary manner in which they appear to run into one another, and the extreme difficulty of deciding which are species and which merely local vai'ieties, that I think it best to defer any detailed notice of them for the present, in the hope that some satisfactory conclusions may be arrived at in the future. Of this there is the greatest probability, since the investigations of Dr. Ottmar Hoffman (translated by j\Ir. Stainton in the Eut. Ann., 1873, p. 50) seem to point to reliable structural characters separating the species. It is satisfactory to find that, as far as they have gone, his observations seem to confirm the distinctness of the most puzzling allied species, and to condemn Dr. Wocke's method of getting through the difficulty by putting most of them together under the name of Wahlhomiana, Linn.
As Mr. Doubleday has added this name and that of ahrasana, Dup., to the latest Supplement to his List, it may be well to say that Wahlbomiana appears, as far as I can judge, to be the longer winged form, common on some parts of the coast as well as occasionally inland, which has hitherto been placed with suhjectana or virgaureana, or called incorrectly by the name oi pasivana, Hiibn.
Ahrasana, Dup., is a nearly unicolorous pale grey insect larger and paler than nuhilana.
Ablahia pratana, Iliibn. — AVocke substitutes osseana, Scop., as an earlier name.
In this family Dr. Wocke places two rather anomalous species which are not iiu-luded by Wilkinson in his work: Tortricotlfs Jii/emana, lib., which he changes to tortricclla, Iliibner's earlier name for the $ ; and Exapate gelatella, Linn., which ho changes to congelatella, Clerck.
Eucliromia arhufclla, Linn.
Eucliromia fulvipunctana, Haw. — Corrected by Mr. Doubleday in his List to Jlammcana, Frol., but now again altei'ed by him, as well as by Dr. Wocke, to Mijgindana, Schiff., a still earlier name.
Euchromia purjiurana, Haw. — Dr. Wocke sinks this species as a variety of riifana, Scop., but I am decidedly of opinion that they are distinct, the fore-wings in this species being narrower in proportion to their length than in rufann. Mr. Doubleday in the last Sup[)lement to his List adopts this view.
3>» [J"iJ--
Euchromia rufana, Scop. — liecorded as British, but not described,
in the Ent. Ann., 1864, p. 126, having been taken rather freely by Mr.
Hodgkinsou in Cumberland. I append a short description.
Alar. exp. 8 lines.
Head and thorax reddish ; palpi paler ; antenna dark grej ; fore-wings greyish- brown entirely reticulated with dark crimson scales, which give the insect a reddish- brown ajjpearance ; hind-wings pale grey ; cilia whitish, with a grey line near the base. $ darker, tlie fore-wings being reticulated with olive-brown scales ; hind-wings dark grey.
A variety of an olive-grey colour with reddish cilia seems not uncommon.
Some time ago, Mr. Hodgkinson obligingly sent me a number of living specimens, which, from the arched costa and greater breadth of their fore-wings, had a very different appearance from inirpurana, which I used to find at Haslemere.
EucTiromia ericetana, Westw. — Dr. Wocke sinks this name in favour of trifoliana, H.-S., the name by which it appears to be generally known in Germany, but this cannot stand, since Westwood's name is anterior, and is accompanied by a recognizable description. It cannot be admitted even on the ground that there is another ericetana in Wocke's genus Sfeganoptyclia, since that also is a name of later date. Ericetana, Westw., must therefore be retained for this species.
Eucli7'omia striana, Schiff.
Euchromia Branderiana, Linn. — M. Jourdheuille in his Calendar says that the larva feeds between leaves of aspen.
Orthotcsnia antiquana, Hiibn. — Prof. Zeller says the larva feeds in the roots of Stacliys palustris.
Sericoris conchana, Iliibn. — Dr. Wocke alters this to rivulana, Scop., which is certainly a much earlier name.
Sericoris lacunana, Dup. — Of this species, beautiful varieties occur in the fens of Norfolk, and they arc noticed by AVilkiiison in a note at the end of the genus (p. 275), where he says that they are dark cinereous or smoky-black. This is correct of some specimens, but others are coaZ-black with the markings indicated by lustrous leaden lines. I have reared these dark varieties along with the typical form from screwed-up leaves of Sjiircea ulmnria. They have been erro- neously placed, as A\^ilkiu8on says, in some collections under the name of herhann. _
I874.J .31
Sericoris Iicrbana, Gn. — lucidi'iitallj noticed by Wilkinson (p. 275), but not dcfii'i'ibcd. Introduced ])y Mr. Uoubleday into bis List from specimens named for him by M. Gueuee. One of these speci- mens, by Mr. Doubleday's kindness, I have had an opportunity of examining, and am convinced that it is merely a variety of lacunana. Guenee says " It appears at first sight allied to, or simply a variety of, *■ cespifana ; certainly more nearly allied to lacunana, and particularly " distinguished from it by the pale colour of the under-side of the " hinder part of the ^\ings. The hinder wings are white beneath, " sprinkled with dark colour at the apex.
" Taken in grassy places on the coast of Brittany."
Now, this whitish colour of the under-side of the wings is utterly unreliable as a specific character, but is i*ather a peculiar form of variation in this genus, seeing that it occurs frequently in typical Iacuna)ia, as well as in rivulana, urticana, and micana.
It would be pi-esumptuous to Bay, without further information, that M. Gueuce has not discovered a species in France distinct from lacunana, to which he has given this name, but I do not think that we have it in this country.
Sericoris rupestrana, Dup. ? — Recorded as British, but hardly described, in the Ent. xlnn., 18G0, p. 1G5. Said to be common on moors in the north of England. This species has, however, been introduced into our lists in error, and for this error, my friend Prof. Zcller seems to be primarily responsible, since he sent, some years ago, a specimen agreeing precisely with our insect, under that name. He has since, however, received the true rupestrana from A^ienna, and has sent me a specimen. It is a very pretty species allied to rivulana (conchann), but with narrower fore-wings and very neat markings. Its only known locality is ISoutheni (Germany.
I am decidedly of opinion that the insects which have been placed in our collections under this name arc only dwarfed lacunana, but I give this opinion subject to correction, since Mr. Doul^leday is not yet fully satisfied aljcnit either this sijccies or hrrhana, and is incliiieJ to think that even another species is separable from lacunana in thiu country. Further investigation is therefore desirable. At any rate, it is certain that so far from being constant, as AVilkinson says, la- cunana is most varial)le in colour ;iiid in the (lislii)ctness of its markings.
Sericoris urticana, Iliibn.
{To tjc cunliniied).
32 L-'niy.
ILLUSTRATIONS OF INSECT MONSTROSITIES. No. 1.— ON A MONSTROUS STAG BEETLE (LUCANUS ELAPRUSJ.
BY PROF. J. O. WESTWOOD, M.A., F.L.S., &c.
In sending to the Entomologist's Monthly Magazine the first of a proposed series of notices of monstrous insects, it may, perhaps, be thought advisable that I should offer a few preliminary observations on this class of specimens, and upon the classifications that have been founded upon them. By those persons who, like myself, believe in the permanence of species, of course, every individual which differs in a more or less marked manner from the normal condition and appearance of the species to which it belongs must, strictly speaking, be considered as a monster ; a term, however, which, in a scientific point of view, requires definition, since the amount of aberration from the specific type varies so greatly, that it has been proposed by some writers to restrict the term monster to those more important deviations by which the normal actions of the entire animal, or of some one or other of its organs, are materially affected.
Hence all those instances which readily occur to the mind of the student, and which are ordinarily termed varieties, resulting from difference of size, shape or colour of markings, and even the outline of the wings, or the alteration in position of the veins, the greater or less amount of punctures, or other variation of the sculpture, must be necessarily excluded from a memoir on monsters. The question as to the real jDosition of certain varieties, which appear to assume a constant character, resulting either from variation in locality,* or times of appearancet has recently become one of much importance in i-eference to the possible formation of distinct local species.
We must, consequently, restrict our attention to those more decided cases of organic deviation from the structure of the tpye of a given species, which result in an incapacity for the due performance of the general or special functions of the individual, or of its special organs. It would be tedious to detail the systems of classification of monsters which have been, from time to time, proposed by Licetue, Iluber, Malacarne, Buffon, Ijlumenbach, Bonnet, Meckel, Breschet, Illiger, Isidore Geoffrey Saint Ilihiire (whose 'Histoire generale ct particuliere des Anomalies' is the great text work on the subject), or
* Polyommatus Ariaxerxet, Solmacis, and Agcstis, niMy bo cited as an instance; a still more remarkalile instance is presented by the vaiicd forms of the females of Papilio Merope, in Mada- gascar and Africa, as proved by Mr. J. P. M. Weale (Trans. Eut. Soc. Lond., 1874, p. 131).
t A remarkable instance of this "seasonal ]jolymorphism " occurs in Papilio A jax. •which, according to ilr. Edwards, aiipears in early spiing, under a tonn which has been termed P. H'alshii ; iu the late spring, as P. I'tlamoniJes ; and in summer and autumn, as P. Marcellus (Scuddcr, lu American Naturalist for May, ISTi}. ,
1874.] 33
the more rcceut observations of Asmusa and Lacoi'daire (whose chissi- fication given in his 'Introduction a FEntomologie,' vol. ii, pp. 414 — 452, is founded chiefly on that of Saint Ilihiire).
Setting also aside those monstrous hybrid creatures, which have resulted from the pairing of animals of distinct species, we find : —
First, a series of monsters, in which the characters of the two ordinarily separate sexes are more or less distinctly to be traced. These are the gynandromorphous insects, which have the body most commonly divided into two distinctly sexual halves, one side being masculine, and the other femimine.J
Secondlv, wehave a series of individuals with mis-shapen bodies or limbs, which have one or more of their organs of an unusual form or structure. These are the ' monstra per fabricam alienam ' of the German authors, and form the section of ' Vices de conformation ' of Lacordaire's system, and which are excluded by him from the real monsters.
Thirdly, the monsters which want one or more of the organs of the species, and which are the 'monstra per defectum ' of the Germans or the ' monstres ectromeliens ' of the French writers.
Fourthly, those individuals which have supplemental organs, or parts of organs, the ' monstra per excessum' of the Germans, and the ' monstres polymeliens ' of the French.
Fifthly, those monsters which have two or more organs coalesced into one (monstres symeliens).
Sixthly, monsters which have the body open along a portion of its length (monstres par scission).
Seventhly, those insects which, in the imago, retain one or more of the organs of their preparatory states (' monstres par arret do de- veloppcmont '*).
The ' Anomali£o magnitudinis ' of Meckel, and the ' MonslTa per colorem alienum ' of Asmuss, appear to belong to some of llie former groups — the gigantic or dwarfish condition of the animal being evi- dently a simple variation, the latter induced, in most cases, by in- Bufiicient food— whilst the different colouration of the opposite wings in Lepidopte7'a is often clearly the effect of gynaudromorphism.
t A curious scriea of specimens, in which the additional sexual chanctcr occurs in only a hIpkIc or^'aii, or portiou of a single organ, is represented in one of the plutea of my ' Thesaurus Enluinulcigicus.'
* In addition to the various Instances recorded, in which the head of the larva has been retained in the perfect state, a case has been recently recorded by Mr. liiitler, at the Meeting of the Kiitoniologicul Society of London, May 'Ith, IST'l. in whi.h llie rii,'ht wiuK's of the jicacock liiittcrfly, Vanfssa lo, were completely developed, whilst the left wings were umluveloped. the tail of the ciirysiili.s hiving become detached during the process of emerging, and the butterfly not possessing the power to get rid of the left side of the pupa case. Another iustanco has .also been recently recorded of a chrysalia of Pontia xipce found with the head caao covered with the head case of the larva Toujude, iu Bull. Soc. Eut. Franco [.^I, ii, p. Ixxxiii).
34
[July.
The insect represented in the wood-cut is a stag beetle {Luccuius
Elaphus, Fabr.), wbict was ob- tained by tbe late Mr. Eaddon, witb great numbers of other American insects, from skim- mings of turpentine barrels, in London. It is a common North American species, and is clearly referable to the Lucanus Elaphus of Fabricius, being a specimen of the ordinary full size, and (except in respect of the head), must be considered as a male judging from the structure of the legs, both of the anterior tibia) being long and narrow, and neither of them short and broad, as in the females of that species. There is some slight difference in the strength of the spines of the four posterior tibiae, the hind ones being destitute of the middle spines. Hence might arise the question whether the diminished size of the left-hand half of the head might not be due to an arrest of develop- ment, or to the importation into the specimen of so much of the female organization ; the extraordinary development of the right lialf of the head has necessitated a partial twisting of the neck, and the structure and punctuation of the left hand half of the head and left mandible is evidently that of the female, as well also as the shortened left antenna. A memoir by myself on this and some other gynandro- morphous insects was read at the Meeting of the Entomological Society on the Gth June, 1S3G, but it has remained hitherto unpublished, together with the figures with which it was illustrated. I find f I'om my notes that the Avings were wanting in IMr. Eaddon's specimen, thus indicating a certain deficiency of organization, and that, on examining the internal condition of the abdomen (so far as could be done in the dried condition of the specimen), no traces of the large male organ were to be found, a pair of terminal lobes, only such as are to be seen in a female stag beetle, being perceivable. Figures of the under-side of the head, and of the terminal segment of the abdomen, will be given in my next article. I regret not to be able to state what became of the specimen here figured at the sale of Mr. Eaddon's collection.
i«<i 35
A monstrous specirnou of Z«C(7««s c^/t?/*', in whicli the left-Land Bide of the head is f urnislied with a lon^, but contorted male mandible, whilst the right mandible is short and triangular, like that of the female, was figured by Dr. King (Yerhandl. d. Xaturf. Gesellsch. Berlin, 1829, pi. iv, f. 1 ; copied by myself in Loudon's Mag. ISTat. Hist, iv, p. 435), and by Asmuss (Monstros. Coleopt., pi. x).
Oxford : 6th June, 1874.
DESCKIPTION OF A NEW SPECIES OF CETONIAB^. BY D. SUAEP, M.B. AOESTBATA SaMSON, n. Sp.
Sujyra viridi-anea, sat micans ; siibfus ccnea, laterihus fulvo-maai- hitis ; 2>>'othorace laterihus antice omnino immarr/inatis.
rLong. Corp. 50 mm. ^ J, Laf. „ 23 mm.
\,Long. antennariim JlaheUl (5 mm. (vLv) .
r^Long. Corp. 51 mm. $ \ Laf. „ 24 mm. i^Lonr/. ant.flah. 5 mm.
Clypcus in front strongly punctured, its lateral margins but little raised, the teeth formed by these moderately long and rather stout. Thorax not so long as broad (its length along the middle IG mm., its greatest breadth 19 mm.), its sculpture Tcry fine ; it has a fulvous spot at the exterior margin on each side, and the raised lateral margins are entirely wanting on its anterior half. The exposed portion of the scutellum is elongate and narrow. Shoulders fulvous. Elytra distinctly sinuate at the extremity, the sutural line dehiscent . towards the apex, the apical teeth rather stout. Under-surfaco metallic, the sides of the breast and abdomen with fulvous marks ; sides of the abdomen slightly punctured, but without any rugosities. Angle of the hind coxie produced into an acute spine. Mcsostoinuil process ratlicr long and narrow, not dilated at the extremity.
Habitat, Silhet.
This fine insect is remarkable amongst its allies from its large size and broad form, and may be distinguislied from the hitherto described species of Agcstrata by the fact that the side mai'gins of the thorax are quite wanting in the front part. The two specimens before me (cj& ? ) differ in the colour of their legs ; iu the male individual, the femora are reddish, with a brassy streak along the middle, while in the female the hiiul femora are entirely metallic, and tlie red mark;^ on the
36 [J^^.^.
other femora are much reduced in size. The tibiae and tarsi are not in the least metallic, but are of a pitchy-red colour in the male, and nearly black in the female.
Besides the two specimens in my collection, I have seen three others placed as an undescribed species in the collection of Count Mniszech, from the same locality. Though I have not examined these specimens critically, I have little doubt they belong to the species here described.
Thornhill, Dumfries :
Sth June, 1874.
DESCRIPTIONS OF NEW LYCJENIDJE FROM WEST AFRICA. BT "NV. C. HEWITSOX, F.L.S.
LiPTENA AnELaiTHA.
Ujiper-side : ^ , dark brown, the fringe spotted with white. An- terior wing with a minute white spot near the middle of the costal margin.
Under-side : dark brown. Both wings with numerous spots of white : both with a sub-marginal series of white spots.
Exp., To inch. Hab., Gaboon (Rogers).
LyCiENESTHES LtzANIUS.
Ujiper-side : $ , dark brown, with several black spots and some indistinct white spots.
Under-side : white. Both wings crossed by several brown bands : both with two sub-marginal bands of brown, the band nearest the margin narrow and indistinct. Posterior wing with two black spots, bordered above with orange near the anal angle.
Exp., H inch. Ilab., Old Calabar.
Oatlauds, Wcybridge :
June, 1874.
DESCRIPTIONS OF THREE NEW BUTTERFLIES FROM COSTA RICA.
BT UEEBERT DEUCE, F.L.S., F.Z.S.
Papilio Sadyattes, n. sp. ■Upper-side, $ , deep black. Anterior wing with a minute wliitc spot below the
1874.1 37
first median nervulc close to the cell. Posterior wiiig with three unequal, sub-ovate, scarlet, opalescent spots, placed in the niiddlo of the space between the discoidal and the firet, second, and third median nervulcs.
Under-side brownish-black. Anterior wing with the white spot as above. Pos- terior wing with five pinkish-white spots between the nervulcs, the first two small, the fringe of both wings alternately white and black.
Exp. 3 inch. Hub. Costa Rica.
In coll. II. Drxice.
Eeesta Coela, n. sp.
Upper-side, $ . Anterior wing black, a triangular white spot divided info four by the nervurcs beyond the middle of the costal margin, a small spot between this and the apex, and a sub-marginal band of six white spots, the third minute ; a large round white spot close to the anal angle. Posterior wing rufous-orange, with the base and outer margin black, a sub-upical white spot, and a sub-marginal band of linear yellowish spots.
Under-side, the same as above, except that all (he white marks are larger, and a yellow streak at the base of both wings, also a yellowish spot partly in the cell of the anterior wing.
Exp. 2 inch. Ilab. Costa Rica.
In coll. II. Drucc.
Mesosemia Ceeopia, n. sp.
Upper-side, <J , deep bluish-black, with the base of both wings blue. Anterior wing crossed beyond the middle by a band of blue, broadest near the costal margin ; a narrow blue band close to the outer margin, broadest at the anal angle. The discal spot scarcely visible, with three minute white spots. Posterior wing with the outer margin broadly blue.
Under-side brown. Both vrings with a discal spot (with three minute white spots in the anterior, and two in the posterior wing), bordered with orange, and crossed on both sides by two bi'oken dark brown lines. A dark brown line crossing both wings near the outer margin.
Exp. IJ inch. Ilab. Costa Rica.
In coll. II. Druco.
On Ihe uiKlcr-sidc this species rescmblea M. Mycenc, Hew. 1 , Circus Koad, N.W. : May, 1874.
Notes on rare Kentish Coleoptera. — My entomological doings, as far n» Pritain is concerned, being probably at an end for several years (as I leave Knglaiid in a few days for the Mediterranean Station), I am induced somewhat prematurely to send a few notes on tlie more important species of Coleoptera I have met with since March last.
From the Isle of Sheppy, I have great pleasure in recording Agriotrs sordidits, 111., of which I foinid a single <J example in flood-refuse, in April. In May, I
38 f-'"'>''
obtained a clue to its habits ; and, by dint of much labour, was so fortunate as to secure a considerable number, from under large loose stones on the shore, just above high-tide mark. With them were a few "wire worms," evidently the larvse of this species, and (rarely) a reddish (but quite mature) variety. I am sorry to say that some of the specimens were abraded, the pubescence, so characteristic of the species when fresh, being exceedingly delicate and fugitive.
Among other species from the same locality, I may mention Dromius vectensis, Eye, in flood-refuse ; Harpalus ruiyicola, undier stones ; Stenoloplms elegans, a fine series in flood-refuse, in April ; Achenium humile, not rare in flood-refuse and under stones ; Compsochilus palpalis, Er., a single example, by promiscuous sweeping, at the end of May ; Nitidula riijipes, a few in a dead bird ; Ulster nejlectus and hissexstriatus, Syncalypta hirsuta (all these three in great profusion) , and Sarrotrmm clavicorne, in flood-refuse ; Telmatophilus IrevicolUs and LimnicJius pygmcBiis, by casual sweeping ; typical Aphodiiis plagiatus, in flood-refuse ; Coeliodes exiguiis, common on Geranium dissecium ; Ceuthorhgiiclius tarsalis, on Sisymbrium; Phlceo- phagus spadix, one or two specimens picked up casually in different places ; Apion SchoenJierri and Hylesinus oleiperda, by sweeping ; Hyperaspis reppensis and Scy minis Mulsanti, basking in the sunshine on stones, &c.
The Chatham district has also yielded its fair share of good species, the following (of which several have likewise been taken by Mr. Champion, in my company) being the most noteworthy : — Harpalus azureus, running about in the sunshine ; Stenolo- phus JlavicoUis and dorsalis, in moso, &c., in a wet place ; IJyobaies forilcornis, in flood-refuse; Callicents rigidicornis and Calodera umhrosa, occasionally by sweeping under fir trees, also in a sand-pit ; Homalota scapularis, a few by evening sweeping ; Tachyporus formosus, Matt., several specimens in moss, and one by sweeping (hitherto only recorded, I believe, by the Rev. A. Matthews from a Midland locality, — I fancy Sherwood Forest) ; PcEderus riparius andj'tiscipes, in flood-refuse, and by sweeping, " grubbing," and cutting tufts in a marshy place, the latter species occurring in profusion ; Stenus major, in flood-refuse (also not rarely at Favcrsham, in April, by cutting tufts of Carex in a wet place) ; Bleditis atricapillus, in enormous numbers in a sand-pit, in April, the perpendicular sides of the pit being riddled with its burrows for yards together; Oxytelus p'iceus (cJ), in flood-refuse; Agathidium rotundattim, in fungus ; Meligethes symphyii, in flowers oi Agraphia ; Cicones varie- gattts, in a nest of Formica rttfa ; Lathridiits testaceus, in some numbers in a very small quantity of brown powdery fungus (not unlike snuff) on rotten beech bark ; AphanisficHsptisiHus, by sweeping ; MordeJlistena ahdominalis ( J ), on umbelliferous flowers ; 31. brevicauda, common in buttercups, &c., on the clialk-hills ; Flinthus caliginostis, not uncommon in moss ; Mecinns circulatiis and Gymneiron rostelhtm (several), by general sweeping; Ceuthorhynchus suturellus, rarely, on Cardamine prateusis ; C. alliarice, not rare on l^rysimum alliaria ; Ceuthorhynchideus hepaticus, nigrinus (in profusion), terminattis, Chevrolati, and versicolor (not rare), by sweeping under fir-trees, &c. ; Apion filirost re, Cissophagus hederce, and Cryptocephaliis lineola, by general sweeping ; Chrysomela gwiiingensis, in a sand-pit ; Fhyllotreta sinnaia ( cJ ) and Thyamis disiiiiguenda, Kye, by sweeping ; T. agills. Rye, variety with dark suture, on Scrophzdaria aquatica growing in a wet place (unfortxuiatcly, this insect only too well merited its specific name, as of several specimens netted by Mr. Champion and myself, all but one effected their escape) ; Cassida vittata, two or three in moss ; C. s<tnguinolenta, by sweeping. _
1S74.] 39
Near Faversliam, on May 30tli, I fell in with RhinocyUits latiruf^tris, in profusion on the heads of a few thistles growing in a wood, on dry chalky soil, and miles away from the coast, to wliich I had imagined that this fine weevil was confined. On the same day I took Aspidophorus orhiculafus (not rare), Liosomus ollovgulus {$), Oymnetron rostellum, &c., by sweeping. — James J. Walker, K.N., 7, West Street, Blue Town, Sheerness : June 8th, 1874.
Capture, of Aphod'uis villosns. — I have had the good fortune to meet with a considerable number of this insect, in a chalk cutting at Freshwater, Isle of Wight. They were chiefly crawling over the clean chalk, and I could discoTcr no cluo to their proper habitat. It is evidently a June species, as I have just noticed that Mr. Side- botham's record in this Magazine, for 1868, of the capture of this insect in Wales, bears the same date as my own. — CuAS. 0. Watekhouse, British Museum : Jinie 16th, 187-i.
S'otes on Ort/ura and olJicr Uyinenoptera. — Although I only commenced the study of Ilymenoptera in March last, I am induced to offer a few observations from seeing what a wide field of research is open for any one who will engage in this branch of entomology. Up to this date, I have had only about twelve hours of actual field work ; yet of seventeen species sent by me to the Rev. T. A. Marshall for inspection, seven are certainly rare, and some new to England, if not to science.
The following names of some of my captures, given by Mr. Marshall (for whoso ready and patient assistance in the minutest details of all my requirements my best thanks are due), will at once show how much may be done by quite a tyro : — Ceraphron palliCdiJpes, new for England ; Hyperbceus seminulum ; Thoron metal- lic us ; Cosmocoma fuscipes ; Prosacantha brachyptera (or rujipe.<tj,pedestris, and two doubtful species ; Acli.ila sp. ? It should bo borne in mind that tliese were all taken in three expeditions before the middle of April. Since then, I have been taking dozens, which still remain unnamed, owing to ray want of knowledge. In fact I take enough in two hours to occupy my evenings for a week in setting them, and it seems a great pity that there should be so few workers in this branch of entomology.
On the CynipidcE, these few notes may be of interest. By far the majority of galls of C. liynicola on the oak scrubs in the ravines on Wimbledon Common appear to contain inquilines. I gathered forty galls, choosing several small ones, and having thirty-one still entire. Out of the other nine, I liave obtained the following : — of a species of Callimome, seven ; of another, Chalcis, three ; of a third, two ; of Decatomus hiyuttatus, two; of a Synergus (two species), over twenty-four, of which sixteen came from one gall of the smallest size ; and another Synergus which looks like a new species. Of the two first mentioned Synergi, Mr. Marshall writes that tlieyarc cither new or cannot be identified. I opened the small gall which contained the sixteen Synergi after twelve had come out, and found the other four each wrapped in a thin silken film ; on opening this, I found them quite dry within. They could fly almost at onco. I aho detected a Callimome, S , i" the net of escaping from a gall. The hole was not quite completed at the orifice ; there was a cold wind, whicli suggested that the insect was waiting for sunshine ; but witiiiu, the insect was dry, and had its wings fully expanded.— A. O. Ward, 10, Stratford Grove, Putney, S.W. : !")//( May, 1874.
40 tJ"iy.
. T>escrij)tion of the larva, Sec, of Boarmia roloraria. — I am indebted to
Mr. W. H. Harwood for repeated help in rearing this species, enabling me at length to offer an acconnt of all its stages. With larva? sent in 1868, I failed entirely, but succeeded much better with eggs in 1871 ; and this past spring, I have again been furnished with a larva after hibernation, in order to make sure of one or two points.
The eggs reached me on July 5th ; the larvae were hatched on 15th, and I soon put them outdoors on a young oak ; when about three-quarters of an inch in length they hibernate, taking up a position on a twig, and remaining motionless as if growing from it ; about the end of January, 1872, 1 found them gnawing the bark of the twigs, and this they did at intervals till they had barked all the twigs of their oak- plant, and checked the development of the buds ; so that on looking at them about the end of March, I found some dead from starvation, and the survivors looking shrunken : I now put them on a fresh plant, the leaves of which had been forced, and on these, as well as on the tender green stems of the new shoots, they fed well, becoming full-grown towards the end of AprU or beginning of May ; the moths appeared between June 5th and 12th.
The egg, as is the case in this genus, is small in proportion to the moth, of flat- tened oblong figure, one end blunter than the other ; the shell down the sides reticulated in regular rows of four-sided meshes, with knots or little knobs at the angles, and generally one or two extra on one of the four sides, as though the shape were meant to be a pentagon or hexagon ; at the ends the meshes are pentagonal or hexa- gonal, with the knots in their proper places ; the colour of the eggs when received was dull greenish, one end becoming deep pink, the little knobs being white ; at last, the whole egg became dark brownish. The newly-hatched larva is without humps, in colour pale green, broad dark brown lateral stripe, head pale reddish-brown. The first moult takes place in about a week, and the young larva conies out with indi- cations of a hump on sixth eegmcnt ; the colour pale ochrcous on back, lateral stripe pale brown, spiracular stripe pale ochrcous, belly darker.
After this, the larva gets darker in colour, and attains a length of about three- quarters of an inch before hibernation ; the head is now notched, and large for the size of the body, the ventral and anal pairs of legs are also large ; the sixth segment puffed, and bearing two transverse humps on the back ; the seventh with a pair of ventral warts ; the twelfth with a transverse dorsal ridge bearing a pair of warts. The colour a dull purplish on the back, the belly paler and more brownish, the folds, humps, and ventral and anal legs all dusky grey ; the head ochrcous, freckled with brownish ; at the folds, a slight dorsal pattern, viz., a blackish spot with an ochrcous spot on either side.
After hibernation it moults once, and then feeds up. The full-grown larva is about one and three-quarters of an inch in length ; from above it appears of about uni- form bulk throughout, except at the sixth segment ; but sideways it appears stoutest at the ninth and tenth segments ; the head is narrower than the second segment, flattened in front, notched on the crown, the lobes rising in conical prominences ; the sixth segment very much swollen on the back and sides, and bearing a pair of puckered Bub-dorsal humps ; the swelling begins just below the spiracle, which is thus lifted considerably above the level of the spiracles of the other segments ; the seventh bears on its belly a pair of transverse puckered humps, in some specimens looking more like two sets of warts — three in each ; the tvjelfth has a slight transverse dorsal
>-i(l(;;o bearing a pair of warts : in some specimens, also tlie foiivlli bears a pair of three- lobcd, transverse, sub-dorsal humps ; tlie front pairs of legs on segments three and four are -n-ell developed, as well as the ventral and anal pairs ; the aiial flap triangular, somewhat rounded at the tip, the 13th (under the flap) ending in two bhmtish points, with a shorter, sharper one between them ; the skin glossy, but wrinkled on the hinder part of each segment.
The ground colour is generally purplish-brown, sometimes more cinnamon-brown, the folds and humps dai'k brownish-grey ; there is not much pattern, and different individuals vary in the amount of patches of paler colouring, some having broad patches of cream colour in the spiracular region of the fifth and tenth segments ; the sixth sometimes tinged with rust colour ; the dorsal line appears as a palish dash on the front of each segment, and a spot just at the end ; similar pale spots ai'e some- times seen where the sub-dorsal line should be on the sixtli and ninth segments ; the head brownish ; the spiracles dirty-white, outlined with black. The whole appearance of the larva, both in outline and colour, is exti-cmely suggestive of an oak twig, and it jireserves the resemblance under one or two changes of attitude ; sometimes standing stiflly out, with the body in a straight line up to the eighth segment, then the seventh bent slightly upwards from tliis, and then from the sixth to the head again in one line ; the head and thoracic segments and legs more or less " bunched " together ; some- times standing off at a wider angle from a twig, and then with the whole front of the body from the sixth to the head inclined — in a stiff line — towards the twig again ; in this position, it looks like what had been a forked twig, with one of the forks broken off : in walking, its humps lose much of their prominence, and then it looks much like other stout Greometers.
The pupa is enclosed in a slight cocoon, placed just on the surface of the soil, aud formed by drawing together moss, &c. ; it is about three-quarters of an inch long, cylindrical, the thorax and upper part of abdomen stoutish, the lower part tapering off I'apidly ; the wing cases granulated and dull, the abdomen glossy ; tho wliole pupa skin sparsely set with fine bristles ; the anal spike triangular, flattened, and ending in a long fine spine, barely bifurcated at the tip ; colour a very dark brown, with the abdominal rings reddish. — John IIelltns, Exeter : 30t/t May, 187-1'.
Jiritiah Jlemiplera : memoranda for residents and fourisf.i. —
Cafi/p/ono/ns qitadratu.t, a terrestrial species.
Lygaosoma ]}unctatogiiltala, gregarious at the roots of the foxglove. L. reficu- lata, also gregarious about several low plants.
These are all common in the Channel Islands. The first is very rare in England, the other two not hitherto found in Britain, but all may reasonably be expected to occur in (he Southern Counties.
Nyxius jacohem, Sehill. (fragarla, Boh.), which is found throughout Europe, and frequents the wild strawberry ; should surely be found in Britain. It usually occurs in the brachypferoua form, and in tliis slate was once found numerous in Switzerland by Meyer-Diir, who, at the time, tliinking the examples were only un- developed y. thymi, took only a few, and did not find out his mistake until it wa3 too late to get more.
JKremocorii plebeius is only known as British by a solitary example from Scot- land. It is found in Germany and the North of Europe among tho roots of heather (CaJhina vulyarisj.
42 [July,
Of the gonna OphthahnimiR three speeies are noted by Dr. J. Salilberg as having been taken by him as far north as Karelia ; one of them (O. pi/gmeeus, F. Sahib.) plentiful among lieather in August. The genus is hitherto unrepresented in Britain, although many species inhabit the Continent, and some must be here.
Tingispyri lives on the leaves of pear trees throughout Europe, often in such num- bers as to occasion detriment to the trees, and hence known to French horticulturists by the name of " le tigre." It is reputed to have been found in Britain, but I have 7iever seen a native example.
Monanthia (PlatycliUa) pilosa, Fieb., is recorded as having been found in France on the white horehound (Marnthium vuJgare) in July (E. Ferris, Ann. Soc. Ent. France, iii, 76, 1873), and probably only wants to be looked for here in order to be added to the British list.
The above are a few of many species of Hemiptera that may reasonably be ex- pected to occur in Britain ; the casual captures by the collectors of other orders in fresh or out-of-the-way localities may soon, I hope, include at least some of them, or perhaps others of the luimerous species that inhabit the Continent, and are not debarred by any known cause from being resident here, but have not hilherto been claimed as Britons. — J. W. Douglas, Lee : June, 1874.
Additional notes on the egg-laying, S^'c, of Acanthosoma griseiim. — I have been hoping for some time that I should see some notice of this species from the pen of some one who had studied the Hemiptera, but failing this, I thought I would copy out at full my notes made in 1871, of which I gave a very short abstract at page 13 of Yol. ix of this Magazine.
On June 4th, 1S71, I noticed an Acanthosoma griseum on one of \hc lower branches of my birch-tree, apparently engaged in extracting some nourishment from the catkins ; she seemed quiet, and the under-side of her abdomen, near the tip, had a greenish tint, suggestive of a batch of eggs soon to be laid; I saw her again on the 5th, a little way off from her previous position, and again I found her on the fith very near the same spot ; at 3 p.m. on that day I looked again, and found her close to where she was on the 4th, and now engaged in laying eggs on the under-side of a leaf. I did not sec an egg actually extruded, but I saw the whole batch gradually placed in order.
She began by depositing one egg, then a row of two or three, then about five, till, at the widest row, there must have been seven or eight; then she diminished the rows a^ain till she came to a point, the whole mass, in number between thirty and forty, forming a rough diamond figure just about the size of her own body. The outer eggs were laid on their sides, the inner ones stood up on end. I detached one and examined it with the microscope, and found it long in shape, twice as long as wide, plump, a little depressed on the sides, recticulated all over very faintly, \ somewhat glossy, and in colour pale whitish-green. The mother now took her stand \ over these eggs, but I do not think her body touched them ; towards the end of June I noticed that the side of the eggs nearest the sun had become yellowish, and, on the 29th, I found the young bugs all hatched, and clustered under their mother amongst the empty egg-shells ; they were yellowish-green in colour, their thoraces becoming darker than the abdomens, and I saw them moving their antenna.
1874 43
On July 3rcl I found them showing a ivtl streak down the middle of the abdomen, and, on tho 6th, they had moved from among the egg-shells, and were got together by themselves. About this time the wind was occasionally rough, and I think was the cause of some of them disappearing, for I could not find that they moved away of themselves, and so concluded that they had been blown or shaken off their leaf. On the 9th I found them moulting, and saw some of them kicking away their cast skins behind them ; their colours were bright at first, yellow with vermilion Btripe, and they soon began to move about more freely, and on the 13th migrated — now with sadly diminished numbers — to a neighbouring catkin. I now packed up the mother with eight young ones, and despatched them to Mr. Douglas ; but, unfortunately, he was from home, and returned only to find their dead and dried bodies.
I fancy it might bo a good plan to beat birch-trees for the impregnated females towards the end of May, and if any were taken, they might possibly be induced to lay in confinement, by furnishing them with fresh birch twigs in a bottle of water, enclosed in a glass cylinder.
I do not think the female feeds whilst brooding over her eggs or young, so that she need not be disturbed till the latter have been hatched for a day or two, when perhaps a fresh twig might be placed close at hand for her to move to if so inclined. — John IIkllins, Exeter: June 2ud, 187-4.
gci'ieiuf).
Fauna and Flora of Xoufolk : Part v, Lepidoi'tera, by Cuaklh.-5 Gt. Barrett (Transactions of the Norfolk and Norwich Naturalists' Society, 1873-1, Supplement) ; pp. 1 — 80. Fletcher & Son, Norwich, 187-4.
It is not often that we have had the pleasure of analysing so complete and valua- ble a local list as this. Too frequently such lists consist of mere catalogues of naine^, and bear internal evidence of untrustworthiness ; or, if tolerably complete in the Macro-Lepidoptera, the "Micros" are usually conspicuous by their absence. All who know Mr. Barrett will bear willing testimony to his indefatigable industry and powers of discrimination and observation; and English entomologists in general (and those of Norfolk in particular) will I'cmcmber with satisfaction the fortunate chance that caused him to be located in the city of our eastern counties for several years. This is not a mere list of names ; the localities arc copious, and no oppor- tunity is lost of giving lengtliencd notes on the habits of tho species, with indications of extensive literary research into all that has been written concerning the Lcpidop- tera of tho county. 1210 species are enumerated, a very large number, considering that for the Micros tho compiler had to rely almost entirely on the results of his own observations. Wo heai'tily commend this work to tho notice of British Lepidop- terists.
The " Transactions " of the Society (of which Mr. Barrett's list forms a separate supplement) for 1873-4, contain some useful hints on breeding Lepidoptera, by Mr. Wheeler (but we are soiTy to sec that the writer dispenses with generic names), and notes on the nidification of Ffusupix, by Mr. Bridgman.
41 fJ"b-.
NoiiENCLATOR ZooLOGiCFS, contiiieiis nomiiia sjsteumtica geiieriim nninialiiiin tam vivcnlium qiiam fossiliura, secundum ordinem alphabcticuiii disposita : sub auspiciis ct siimptibus C. E.. Societatis zoologico-botanicse conscriptus a Comite AuGUSTO DE Mahschall ; Vindobor.ffi, 1873, pp. 482.
In 1848 was published the -woll-known " Nomenclator " by the late Professor Agassiz, enumerating the names in use from the commencement of the system up to 1846, amounting to about 81,000 ; but for some years it has been practically impos- sible for a zoologist labouring under the necessity of coining a new generic term, to be certain that his proposed name was not already in use. It was, then, with great satisfaction that zoologists, heard, a few years since, that a continuation of this work up to the year 1868 was in prcpai-ation by Graf Von Marschall in Vienna. This has at length appeared, and contains, at a rough estimate, about 23,000 additional names, bringing the total to the alarming number of 54,000. This continuation is a great boon, and, even if there be errors of omission (things nearly impossible to avoid in a work of this nature) the compiler deserves, and will doubtless receive, the thanks of all working zoologists. Since the year 1870, an index of new generic names has been added to the vols, of the " Zoological Becord," so that now there remains only 1869 absolutely unaccounted for (and a list of the new genera for that year will, we believe, be added to the next volume of the Zool. Eccord). As a reference for generic names only, it would, perhaps, have been better if the work had taken the form ofAgassiz's "Index Universalis," i. e., an alphabetical list from beginning to end, but the compiler (who gives a publication reference and date in each instance) has adopted the classified plan ; there are thus 22 sopai-ate alphabetical lists to wade through instead of one only, and as all names are inserted precisely as published, ■without any grammatical or orthographical emendations, a zoologist who respects the letter H must also search through the vowel initials of the 22 sections before he can always be sure that his proposed term will run the gauntlet of criticism. The num- ber of absolutely " nonsense-names," evidently formed without the slightest attempt at meaning, is enormous, and the greater part of these are found among the various orders of Iiisecta, the chief coiner of them being a well-known English ^vl•iter. A glance shows, also, tliat, for want of a guide such as this, the number of instances in which the same name has been used two or more times, even in the same order, is very large. With neither time nor space for an extended analysis, we conclude by recommending the book as a monument of laborious research of a nature that few could be found to willingly undertake.
Psyche ; organ of the Cambridge (^Mass.) Entomological Club. Edited by B. PiCKMAN Manx. No. 1 ; May, 1874.
The ' Club ' under whose auspices this quarter-sheet is issued, appears to number about twenty-five members among which are several names well known and honoured in ontoniologieal science. A first number of any periodical of this nature is scarcely a fair subject for criticism ; but on a future occasion we hope to feel called upon to give a more extended notice. Oiu* present notice shall be limited to praising the proposed plan of giving monthly notes on the bibliography of all » that concerns American Entomology, and to discouraging the attempt initiated to apply ' English ' (or ' common ') names to North American butterflies. Our American
J
1874.1 4..5
cousins will do well if they avoid the vices of their ancestors in the old country ; and they m;iy receive our assurance that the proposed practice, instead of advancing en- tomological science, will, iu the long run, have the opposite effect.
Entomological Society of Loxdon : 3Iaj/ 4th, 187-1. — Sir S. S. Saunders, President, in the Chair.
The Entomological Society of the Netherlands presented a finely executed medal struck in honour of Dr. Snellen von VoUcidiovcn on his retirement from the ollice of President, which he had held for twenty years.
G-. T. Porrltt, Esq., of Uuddersfield (already a Subscriber), and Ilerbert Goss, Esq., of Brighton, were elected Members.
Mr. Butler exhibited an example of Vanessa lo bred from the chiysalis, shewing an arrest of development, the wings, &c., on one side being perfect, w^hereas, on the other side, they were aborted and shrivelled, with the pupa-case still attached. He considered this due to the fact of the pupa having become detached during the metamorphosis.
Mr. W. C. Boyd exhibited a specimen of a Solenohia from St. Leonard's Forest, which was taken with ordinary S. inconspicuella, and might be an albino variety thereof, but of very different appearance from the ordinary form. He also exhibited several leaves of Symphytttm officinale recently gathered, on the under-side of which •was a dense mass of dead or moribund examples of Uraohycentrus suhnubilus nearly covering the surface. AH the insects (with perhaps a single exception) were males. Upon these leaves there were probably several hundred oxaniples. No obvious reason could be suggested for this assemblage.
Mr. Stainton remarked that there were many such unaccountable instances of a habit of congregating in insects, and reminded the meeting of a fact known to all breeders of Micro-Lepidoptera, concerning the pupation of most species of the genus Nepticula, the larva of which were comparatively solitary, mining in leaves ; but if a number of mined leaves, containing larvte, be collected and placed m a box, it is found that the cocoons arc constructed gregariously between certain of the leaves, with no apparent reason for the preference. He illustrated the habit by comparing the mass of mined leaves in a breeding box to those of a book, between only a few of wrhicli the accumulated pupa) would be found.
Mr. C. O. Watcrhouse exhibited a beetle of the genus Sinoxylon (BostrychidcBj sent from British Burmah by Dr. Lamprey of the 67th Regiment, wliicli, according to him, had the habit of boring into small stems, and then eating the wood com- pletely round within the bark, so that it became entirely detached by the first gust of wind ; portions of small stems thus si'Vcvcd by tlic btt'tlo accompanied the exhibition.
Mr. McLaclilan said lie liad to correct an error into which he had fallen when exhibiting at the meeting on the 7th July, 1873 (cf. Ent. Mo. ilag. x. p. 72 ; Proc. Ent. Soc. 1873, p. xxiv.) an insect of the family St/rphidee as gynandromorphous. Mr. Vcrrall, who had examined it, said it was a male of Chrysotoxum fcstivum, and that the apparent asymmetry of the genital apparatus was usual in that species, as also in other Syrp/iidec.
Part ii. of the Transactions for 187t was on the table.
46 I-'"'}''
LIFE HISTORY OF MELIOETHES* BY ELEAXOR A. ORMEEOD.
In the spring of 1872, 1 waa requested by my friend Mr. Andrew Murray to make some observations on tlie development of the genus 3IeUgcthes, for which my residenee in the country and suflicieut leisure seemed to give me some advantages.
Mr. Murray had already (Trans. Linn. Soc.) monographed a por- tion of the family of Nitidulidce to which Meligethes belongs, and had devoted considerable study to that genus itself, with a view to the continuance of his monograph. In the meantime, Herr Edmund Reitter of Paskau had, for the first time, published (Brunu : 1871) a monograph of the European species of the genus, describing as many as 99 (of which 76 had been recognised by various previous authors), and to which nearly a score more have been added subsequently by Herr E-eitter and M. Ch. Brisout. As the characters of such a large number of species in a genus of singularly uniform aspect are neces- sarily very minute, Mr. Murray was anxious to find what amount of individual variation (if any) took place in the broods of any one of them, and so asked me to assist him in ascertaining this point.
In this respect, how^ever, my observations were not productive of any result, but, in another pqint of view, they may perhaps be of interest to entomologists ; for it is unnecessary to say that I could not make the researches required of me w'ithout rearing and breeding the insects, and, consequently, I was compelled to study their whole life history from the egg to their perfect development. 8o far as I know, their early history has never previously been described in this country; the larva and pupa are known, but beyond that I believe their life history is a blank, which I shall endeavour to suppl}^ by the following notes, t
The species which I studied were the large M. rufipes and the common green M. ceneus and viridescens ; but, as the two latter of these vary considerably in colour, and hundreds of them passed under review, it was impossible to ascertain (whilst watching their habits in a state of liberty) whether some specimens of the viridescens Avcre not mixed with the aeneiis, and I have therefore simply designated both throughout as " the green Meligethes,'' though, as far as careful ob- servation went, they were entirely ceneus.
* Read by Andrew Murray, Esq., F.L.S., at the Meeting of the Kensington Entomological Society in May, 1874.
t Since the .ihove was in type, I .am indebted to Mr. Rye for drawing my attention to the publications of Krnst Hccger (Sitzungsber. Akad. Wissen.«ch. Wien, xiv, Ueft ?, 1854, pp. 278-281, pi. iii, figs. 1-10), G. Kiiiistlor (Die uneeren Kulturi'flanzen scliUdliclien Insecten, &c., 1871, pp. 46 and 47), and J. H. Kaltenb.ich (Die Planzenfeiiide, <tc., 1872), as recent continental writers on the- life-history of Meligethes o;iieu),—E. A. O. •
1874.] 47
My observations wore made at Sedbury Park, in the west of Gloucestershire, aud began about tlie 22nd of ]May ; but the season was backward both as regards plant and insect life, so that the date in ordinary seasons would probably range rather earlier.
The first species that I noticed was M. rufipes, abounding then on the hawthorn blossoms, but of tlie individuals of this I only noticed especially the dexterity with which they buried themselves when in confinement, and that none of the specimens which I then opened showed the presence of eggs.
About June 6th, the brassy-green Ilcligethes were to be found in considerable numbers on the inflorescence of cultivated Cruciferce, apparently feeding entirely on the pollen, and indifferent whether they gnawed it direct fx"om the anther, or swept it with their jaws from where it chanced to have fallen on the sui'face of the leaves, or each other's backs, and also collecting it in masses on the frontal portions of the head, by drawing the tibite laden with pollen (which seem as if purposely formed for collecting it) through the mouth ap- pendages. On opening the abdomen of some of the Meligethes in- festing the turnip plants, I found that eggs were formed, usually only two in number, but occasionally four.
On the lith of June, examining some turnip stalks in flower, I noticed a considerable number of larva? amongst the filaments and apparently injured buds, and sometimes as many as five of these larva) in one flower. They w^ere very active, and their method of progression, with the assistance of the caudal proleg, vigorous, and characteristic, by taking a few steps in the ordinary way, then giving a sudden and most energetic twist of the tail forward with a sweep to one side, and, after securely fixing the caudal foot, proceeding as before.
On the 15th to the 17th of June, similar larva? were to be found in profuMion on turnip and cabbage blossom haunted by the green Meligethef!, the larvje usually spotted, and so transparent that the con- tained matter might be seen moving ahout internally in globules.
The larva; were usually to be found in the buds and partially opened flowers, distinguished by a shrivelled and stunted appearance; ill the stamens and petals the distortion of 1lie flower being, in all ])robability, owing to the partiality of the larvic for gnawing at the base of the blossom.
In one case, I watched a larva with its jaws applied to the same spot for upwards of two minutes, and working with such energy that the jerk with which it piilled from time to time was distinctly visible, but I was never able to detect that solid matter was removed.
4S iJui.v. IS"*-
Up to tliis time I was unable to find an egg on the flowci's or stamens, but the frequently diseased state of the anthei's, added to the fact of my once finding half an anther completely occupied by one of the larvc-e, suggested the possible locality, more especially as the anther was occasionally swollen in one place, so as to have a com- pletely gall-like appearance.
On the 17th of June, I found, on growing rape plants, great quantities of these larvas, now more opaque, with (in some cases) a brown appearance along the back and the spots no longer yisible, col- lected together in parties of as many as one to two dozen at the base of the pedicels of the topmost flowers, on the sjirays of which the blossoms were now withered ; others of the larva3 wei'e distributed variously, but chiefly on the seed-pods, where the gnawing motion of the brown jaws might be clearly distinguished against the light colour of the vegetation ; these larvae appearing to absorb the plant juices with their mouths rather than to eat the solid substances.
Some of these rape sprays I planted in earth in a flower-pot with their adhering larvae, as also some sprays of withered turnip blossom, on Avhich similar parties of four to seven larvre were collected at the base of the pedicels of the topmost flowers, putting the rape and turnip sprays in separate pots, each pot in a bowl of water to secure dampness.
At about a quarter to nine on the evening of the 17th of .Tune I found the larva? on the rape stems burying themselves as fast as pos- sible in the earth. They appeared to drop, not to crawl down the stem, and then rapidly crawling over the surface of the earth, buried themselves head foremost as fast as they could. Of about forty or more larvse which were on the shoots in the evening, I did not see one on the followiiig morning, and the turnip larva? disappeared at the same time.
The dropping of the larvae from the spray appeared to me to be caused by an alteration in the shape of the caudal proleg, which, ceasing to be serviceable to its proprietor, obliged the larva, whether so inclined or not, to fall from the position no longer suitable to it into the locality requisite for its further existence.
On the 7th of July, noticing that the very heavy rains had washed a number of the larvae from the flower-pot in which tlic turnip grubs were confined, I turned the ball of earth out on my hand, and found, near the bottom of the pot, a small beetle-pupa of a white colour with reddish-brown eyes, and of obtuse oval shape (nndovhtcdU- a Mel i(/ethes) , the -creature apparently in vigorous health, it Iny in a little earthern
i
Aiitfust, 1874.] 49
cfll, just like tliosc of .Bald niii its r/hiiiiHi/m, only on a smallei' scale, with a few utlier similar pupin in the flower-pot, about three and a half or four inches below the surface of the ground. The outside time occupied iu the pupal change was approximately three weeks ; but it was impossible to tell the time that had bceu required with ac- curate precision, as the larvae did not bury themselves quite at one time, and the pupse were fully formed when noticed on the 7th July.
Returning now to a point passed over for the sake of presenting the observations with some degree of continuity. Up to June 17th 1 had not been able to discover the Melif/ethes eggs ; but, finding in rape that I was specially examining that there were larvse of most minute size in the buds, I went on opening the undeveloped blossoms till I came on two eggs in a rape bud, one egg placed on an anther, the other dropping out fi'om the bud as I opened it, these eggs corres- ponding in colour, shape, size, and texture with the eggs of the Meli- gethes of which I had specimens laid by the beetles under careful inspection.
One of the eggs I found in the rape bud appeared opaque in the middle, as if the futui-e larva were partially formed : this was in the evening, and the next day, about 1.30 p.m., I noticed a discolouration at one end of each of the rape eggs resembling the head of the eon- tained larva^, showing through the pellicle of the egg. About 5.30 p.m. I found one egg empty, the other appeai'ed only as an empty shell, and on the bud were two minute larva? exactly resembling those of which I had examined so many lately.
These observations were made upon the insects in their natural Btate, and without any artificial restraint ; the following were made upon the insects placed in confinement, and under constant obser- vation : —
On June 19th, I imprisoned some of the perfect insects under a small bell-shaped glass, fitted on a cork base, and with a stopper re- movable at pleasure, so that I could watch the inmates and supply what might be necessary without materially disturbing them. Next morning (June 20th) a few eggs were visible, and later in the day a few more, but, on the following day, some of the eggs were missing ; and, conjecturing from the fragments lying about that the MdijHhes had bc'cn feeding on their own eggs, I removed the beetles from the glass.
These eggs were similar to those found in the rape buds, the shape slichtly variable, and appearing to me to vary with the state of
60 iAii(f\ii(t.
development o£ the contained embryo ; but in both cases I found
eggs of the shape sketched A and B, that is, narrowly ovate, about twice as long as their own width throughout, and with the two ex- tremities obtuse.
The ovipositor of the female Meligeihes is so enormously distended by the egg, that till seeing its exit, it is almost impossible to believe it could find a passage : the proportion might in diagram-form be con- veyed as in the cut — C, channel of exit ; D, distended mass above.
On the 21st of June, the day after the deposit of the Meligetlies eggs, the commencement of the development of the contained larvae was perceptible as a misty substance nearly filling the egg (see E in cut).
On the 23rd, the larval shape was more defined, the egg showing as clear at each end, and on one side, and the contained embryo as an obtuse oval form occupying about two-thirds of the length and breadth, and lying against one side of the containing pellicle.
On June 2-ith, that is, four or five days after the laying of the eggs, several of them hatched, and I could see no difference between the specimens of the larvse hatched from these eggs procured imme- diately from the imprisoned beetles and those previously examined on the infested rape plants, and in their habits also the resemblance was to be found. The caudal foot was used for assistance in progression, and the newly-hatched grub fed greedily on the anther of the rape.
In another series of observations, the parents were imprisoned on June 26th, and on July 2nd, as the eggs were beginning to hatch, I placed one on a microscope slide for continuous observation under an object glass of one inch focus.
The first observation taken at 8.22 a.m. on the 2nd of Julv,
1874.] 51
shewed the larva occupying one side of the egg as pveviouHly described, the extremity marked F in the cut perceptibly moving to and fro in the egg. 10.20, as an opaque object, the ring-like banding of the egg now showed noticeably. 11.6, the portion of the larva (G) now showed its figure plainly. 1.22 p.m., the lower exti'emity now showed as at II. 3.57 and -i.8, no special change. 9.55, the larva was now almost constantly thrusting its smaller extremity backwards and for- wards, a movement of this portion having been noticeable at intervals all day.
July 3rd, at 7.57 a.m., the head of the larva was visible in the egg, also a row of spots indicating about nine of the larval segments, and the tip of the caudal extremity was still moving. 8.8 a.m., the head showed plainly (of a purple colour), and the outline of the seg- ments was also clearly visible nearly up to the tail, with a spot of transparent appearance on each segment ; the tail did not yet show its form clearly. 8.30, the bristles on each of the segments of the larva now showed plainly on the one side exposed to view^ 8.39 a.m., I in cut. 9.23 a.m., the larva was now coming out of the egg, arching up the middle of its back in its struggles, and the head and tail ap- pearing forced to the extremities of the egg. At 9.2G the larva Avalked out of the egg head foremost, transparent and colourless, save two brown spots, which I presumed to be the eyes. 9.29, the larva now appeared to be about one-third longer than the egg it had just quitted. 12.-10 p.m., the head of the larva had now re-assumed a purple colour, and purple spots showed on the first three segments, the colour of the spots being paler than the head, and getting gradually paler on the other segments to the tail.
AVhen full grown the larva is yellowish-white w ith brown jaws ; but in its early stage, its appearance is as follows : — general colour whitish, head transverse, triangular, broader than the succeeding segments, dark shining purj)le, with depressed wrinkled line down the centre and white line across bending upwards, so as to form a shield-shape marking pointing towards the top of the head. Segments with purple spots paler than the head, the segments im- mediately behind the head with two purple patches reaching nearly to the middle of the back, the suc- ceeding segments with one spot on each side, the three preceding the tail with an additional one in the centre, and the tail itself with tlie three spots confluent and purple tips to the lobes. Legs purple, -laws sharply pointed and much curved, slightly over-
52 [August,
lapping each otlicr at the tips (J in cixt). Antennae four-jointed (K in cut) . Each lobe of the tail with two bristles, and the other larval segments wdth one on each side, excepting the segment immediately behind Ihe head, which has on either side two bristles or more.
This description was taken from a larva still of such minute size as to be barely perceptible to the naked eye, and (presumably) not more than twelve hours old.
In the above recorded investigations, a few points struck me par- ticularly : the first being the coincidence between the duration of the life of the larvas and that of the flowering stems on w-hich they were placed. Next, the apparently enforced dropping down of the larva when its time of feeding was complete ; from the size of the plants compared with that of the insect, the journey would have been one of enormous length, and without provision, by the way, the hardened stem not affording the little collections of sap in which the larva? appeared to delight. Another point was the position of the larva in the egg. From the great relative size of the portion (about the third or fourth segment) in the egg which, until almost complete development, represented the extremity opposite to the head, I think that until almost the time of hatching the larva lay bent on itself, and then suddenly straightened itself, throwing the head into the natural position. The fourth point Avas the colour (in the egg, and from a few hours after hatching, the larva showed patches of pur- ple colour) as it stepjied from the egg, and for a few hours these p.arts, as the insect generally was quite white. Possibly this is well known in other cases, but I do not myself understand the reason of it.
Torquay : 3Iarch 2nd, 1874.
ON TWO NEAV COLEOPTEROUS INSECTS BELONGING TO THE FAMILY RUTELID^.
nV CHAS. O. WATEEirorSE. RUTELAKCnA, g. 11.
Closely allied to Bufcla, but separated by the following characters. Antennre with the basal joint thick, the second smaller, the third to seventh gradually decreasing in size, the eighth to tenth forming an elongate club. Clypeus separated from the head by an impressed line. Thorax with a broad rounded lobe over the scutellum ; the lobe not emarginate. The large claw to all the tarsi bifid at the apex.
1S74. 53
EUTKLAllCUA C^l AltlU.M ACL LATA, //. y.
Ohlomja, nitlda ; capite, scuteUo tlioraceq^iie niyris, hoc, laferlhus ochraceis ; elyfris ochraceis maculis quatuor nijris ; corpore siihtus j^eJibusqtie Jlavis nigro-lineatis, tarsis piceis, capite thoraccqve utrinque rufftilin instructis. EJi/tris fortiter stricdo-punctatis, apicihis fere Icevibus. Long. 8 lin., lat. 5 Un.
Convex, scarcely broader posteriorly than in front, the sides sub-parallel with a very slight constriction below the shoulders. Head with the vertex shining, fore- head with a slight impression ; the anterior margin and the clypeus covered with transverse rugula*, those on the forehead stronger ; the clypeus in front narrowed, and with a small triangular incision. Tlie thorax is two-fifths broader than long, broadest behind, black, with the sides broadly orange-yellow, in the middle of which margin is a small black spot on each side, the discoidal black portion ia in the middle shining and scarcely visibly punctured, but bordered on each side by a longitudinal band of rugula; (or strong confluent punctures) reaching nearly to the posterior margin, and connected with the hind mai-gin by some strong punctures; the orange portion is also strongly punctured anteriorly, and on the extreme margins; the anterior margin is bisinuate, the anterior angles very slightly prominent ; the sides evenly rounded, with the margins incrassate, especially behind ; the posterior margin broadly lobed in the middle. Scutellum about half as long as broad, shining, almost impunctate. Elytra of the same width at the base as the base of the thorax, but a trifle broader immediately below the shoulders, very slightly broader posteriorly, with tlie apices conjointly broadly roundid, strongly punctured in longitudinal lines, the apex, however, nearly impunctate ; entirely orange-yellow with the exception of a small round spot below the shoulder, and a large ovate transverse spot a little below the middle, and the suture at the extreme apex, which are black. Pygidium pale yellow, with two minute black dots, shining and impunctate ; the under-side yellow, the various parts and segments narrowly bordered with black. Legs yellow, with the upper side of the anterior femora, a spot on the intermediate and posterior femora, and the tarsi, blackish. Antenna; yellowish.
Hah.: Poiiang? Coll. Brit. jNhis. (Banks.).
Of this beautiful and remarkable insect, which was found in a miscellaneous drawer in the Banksian Cabinet, witliout locality, I have seen two other s])cciinens, in Mr. Pascoe's possession, from Penang.
Rltela saxouinolenta, n. s. Breviter ocalif, niticla ; n'ujra, thoracin lateribiis, RcutcUi bast, elytrorum basi apiceque satiyiiiiieis ; viesosto'no ct fitnorum posfcrioi'um viargine unlico Jlavis. Long. 8 Un., lal. V., I in.
Moderately convex, but slightly dcpi-cssed on the back of the elytra, very shining. Head 7iot very thickly punctured ; the clypeus thickly and finely punctured. Thorax convex, two-fifths broader than long, sparingly but distinctly pimctured above, more finely punctured on the sides which are briglit red, the red portion with a black spot in tlio middle; the anterior margin is gently sinuate; the sides much rounded ; tin- poslerior margin rounded in the middle, gently sinuate on each side. Scutellum triangular, with the sides straight, as long as broad, very sparingly and
51 [August.
finely punctured. Elytra scarcely broader than the thorax, as long as broad ; at the extreme base as broad as the base uf the thorax, but immediately widening at the shoulders to the width of the thorax across its middle, becoming a trifle broader at the posterior two-thirds, the apex of each elytron broadly rounded ; the dorsal region is sparingly and delicately punctured ; there is a transverse red band at the base, which, however, does not reach the sides ; the apex of each elytron has also a lunate red spot, leaving the extreme margin black. The pygidium is thickly trans- versely striated, with an obscure red spot on each side at the apex. The sides and the apical segment of the abdomen are also finely striated. One or two small spots at the base of the legs, the front of the mesosternum, and the anterior margin of the posterior femora, are yellow.
Hah. : Ocana, N. Granada. Coll. Brit. Mus.
In the British Museum Collection there is a variety from Columbia which bears the manuscript name o£ ''^ rufipennis,'' differing from the specimen which I have here described as It. sanguinolenla in having the thorax rather less rounded at the sides, and it as well as the elytra somewhat strongly punctured ; these latter are entirely bright red.
British Museum : July 3rd, 1874.
DESCRIPTION OF A NEW GENUS AND SPECIES OF COLEOPTERA
FROM JAPAN BY THE EEV. U. S. GOEHAM AND aEOEGE LEAVIS.
Family ENDOIITCHID^. CTANAUGES, g. n. Antennce cJavd laxe articulatd, articuJo ultimo oblique truncafo. Palpi maxillares hasi constricti, articulo ultimo acuminato. Presternum latum, apice dep)resso.
The insect described by Mr. Lewis in the following notice aa ill form the type of a new genus of Endomt/cliidce proper, its near ally being, as I think, Endomi/chus. It is, however, abundantly distinct from any genus in that family by the form of the maxillary palpi. These organs, which in this family have usually the terminal joint truncate, in the present genus have them conically acuminate. The form of the prosternum, taken with the general outline of the insect, induces me to believe its right place Avill be as I have placed it. Being unique at present, it is of course impossible for me to give accui*ately the form of the labium ; it appears, however, to agree with the rest of the genera near which I place it in being longer than wide. Six segments are distinctly visible in the abdomen. I think, however, the specimen is a female ; no secondary sexual characters are to be noticed.
■ Shipley : June llV/i, 187-i. • H. S. GoRiiAM.
55
Cl'ANALUES GIORHAMI, U. S.
Ovutits, niyer, nitiJua. Cupite thoraceque suh-lcevibus. Elytris nigro- vceruhis, hnud sfriafis, suh-fortiter jyunctatls. Suit us niger vix punctntus, abdominis apice in medio testaceo. Antcnnis nigris, jyaljyis j^f^dibusque nigro-piceis. Long. 2\ lin.
Of this pretty species, for wliieli a new genus has been formed by the Rev. H. S. Gorhani, I have received during the present year a single example from Kawatchi, in the S.E. of Nipon, and it is with much pleasure that I dedicate it to my friend, the author of the genus.
Xorbiton : June 10th, 187 1- GrEO. Lewis.
DESCRIPTION OF A NEW SPECIES OF CREMASTOCREILUS FROM CALIFORNIA.
BY PROF. J. O. WESTWOOD, M.A., F.L.S.
Ceemastocheilus ceassipes, sp. n. Magnus, latus, supra deplanatus, niger, capite punctato ; chjpei margine antico parum recurvo semicirculari ; pronoto latcribus rotundatis, caput versus augustioribus, dorso parum convexo, anqulis ant ids fere ad oculos porrectis subacutis, impressione sat profunda intra angulos notata ; angulis posticis in cornu breve retro productis ; margine postico curvato, disco punctato, punctis prcEsertim lateral ibus majoribus et rotundo-cica- tricosis ; breviter setoso ; elgtris latis, dorso jjlanis, pitnctis ovalibus- postice i?icomplc'tis, jyarani profundis, guttis viinutis strigisque brevibus tenuissimis intcrdum undulafis,propesufur(im albis parce notatis ; pcdibus brevibus, latis, crassis, fossoriis, tibiis anticis dentihns ralde obfnsis, tarsis multo brevioribus, articulis latioribus quam lungis ; niento postice integro, glabro. Long. corp. lin. H\ ; hit. burner, elgtr. lin. SI.
Habitat in California. j\lus. Parry.
This very distinct species belongs to the group with the mentum entire in the middle of its hind margin, and in which the anterior tarsi have the terminal joints not suddenly dilated ; but differs from the two species hitherto described as having the legs short and fossorial (C. Schaumii and angularis), by having the legs comparatively much broader and shorter, with the joints of the tarsi broader llian long.
Oxford: -Juii, lUh. lS7t.
5(3 L-vugusi.
UESCKIPTIOA'S OF AEW SPECIES OF BUTTERFLIES. BY W. C. IIEWITSON, P.L.S.
Harma Amemuks, sjj. n.
Upper-side : ? , dark-browu. Eotli wings with the usual black liueai- spots in the cell ; botli crossed at the middle by a common straight band of white, broadest at the costal margin of the anterior wing, where it is divided into four spots ; both ■wings with a sub-marginal series of white spots (pyramidal on the antei'ior wing) bordered below with black.
Under-side : blue-white, clouded with brown on both sides of the central baud ; a sub-marginal undulating brown line.
Exp., 3t"o iuch. Hab., Gaboon {Boycrs).
Mucli like S. Ciceronis of Ward, but without the second sub- marginal band of white spots.
AjBISABA EUTHERFOIUHI, Sj). U.
Upper-side : S , dai-k red-brown. Anterior wing with the costal margin and apex rufous : the inner margin convex. Posterior with a rather large blue spot towards the apex.
Under-side : red-brown. Both wings crossed below the middle bj two bands of white (tinted on the anterior wing with white). Anterior wing with one black ocellus with white pupil, and a minute spot near the apex. Posterior wing with a larger bifid black ocellus bordered with orange, and marked by four minute white spots near the apex, and a sub-marginal line of white.
Exp., Ittj inch. Hab., West Afi-ica (Cross liiver, liuthcrford).
This species was sent to me with a thousand others from the Cameroons and Cross Eiver, by Mr. Kutherford. There are many beautiful species, and in great perfection, but undoubtedly the only new one is that which I have now described.
Eresia Eutropia, sp. n.
Upper-side : $ , dark-brown. Anterior wing with a triangular rufous band from the base below the median norvure ; crossed obliquely at tlie middle by a band of four yellow spots, and beyond the middle by a second band of four similar spots ; a small spot of yellow near the apex. Posterior wing rufous, with the costal and outer margins dark brown ; the outer margin marked by a scries of very indistinct- pale spots.
Under-side as above, except tliat botli wings liave a sub-marginal scries of spots, yellow on the anterior wing, white on the posterior wings.
Exp., lio inch. Hab., Panama.
]N'early allied to E. Jisnwrphinn of J3uller.
NOTES OX A COLLECTIOX OF BUTTERFLIES RECENTLY BROUGHT FROM CAPE COAST, WEST AFRICA, WITH DESCRIPTION OF A NEW SPECIES FROM NATAL.
]}r A. Vr. butlp:k, f.l.s.
My friend Charles liartou, Esq., of Maueliester, recently wrote to uie, advising me of the arrival of a rather fine collection of West African buttei'llies, from which the following species, formerly desi- derata to the cabinets of the British Museum, have been selected :
CUAKAXES EpHYRA, Godt. ? .
The female of this species differs from that of C. Ethdion in the straighter costa of jnnmaries, the white band of which is not clouded with blue, and is of the form of the pale tawny. ochreous band of C. Viola ; the basal ai"ea is also richly shot with purple: this insect is very interesting,' as proving the entire distinctness in both sexes of C. Ethalion and C. Ephyra.
ItuMALEOSOMA SAUCOPTEKA, Butl. ^.
A line male of this rare species, differing in no respect from the type.
PSEUDACR.EA STRIATA, Butl. $ .
The mule was also in the collection and is now in Mr. Druce's hands.
PsEUDACR^A BorSDUVALTI, Uoubl. ^, ?.
The male of this species is exceedingly rare ; Mr. Trimen speaks (if having seen a specimen fron^ Old Cahibar in Mr. Hewitson's col- lection ; he, moreover, figures the Natal species (both sexes) as a \ariety of the same — influenced, no doubt, by a curious, apparently intermediate, aberration of the latter in the South African ^Museum : as I now have an opportunity of comparing Ihc two males, and as I find that they mimic respectively two entirely distinct species of Acrcca (referable to two of Doublcday's sections of the genus), I describe the Natal species as follows :
PsEUDACKj'A Trim EN 1 1, //. Hp.
PfDwpra Tioisf/itralii, r(rr.,Tr']m('U,Ti';\]ii<. Linn. Sue, wvi. pi. xxvi, figs. S, 9 (ISC,9).
(J. A\nngs above reddish-tawny (possibly crimson in fresh specimens), primaries spotted and streaked as in P. iio/W/zi-rt///, apical half of wiuirs tran.-^lucent-brnwn, crot-sed bv a broad salmon-coloured
5S . lAu-Mst.
belt, from sub-costal nervure to tbird median braiicb, and tbence con- tinued, as two large decreasing spots, into median interspaces ; ee- coudaries spotted and margined, as in P. BoisduvaUi : body very similar to tbe same : wings below paler tban above, secondaries witb a wLitisb nebula on end of cell, and origin of median branches, black spots smaller tban in P. BoisduvaUi ; no pale yellow tint on secondaries. Expanse of wings, 3i incbes.
Port Natal (Gueinzius). B. M.
Tbis species mimics Acraea Acara of Hewitson, as Mr. Trimen baa already pointed out, tbe latter, bowever, is veiy distinct from A. Zetes, of wbicb P. BoisduvaUi was supposed to be an imitation ; tbe male of P. BoisduvaUi is a narrower-winged, more slenderly built insect tban P. Trimenii ; tbe primaries are translucent-black, witb tbe nervures, intex'nervular folds and spots black ; tbe basal tbird is purplisb ; there is a quadrate patch of bright salmon-colour at anal angle, interrupted by the spots and tbe last black dash, and margined externally with black ; the secondaries are produced and acutely pointed at anal angle ; the central area and sub-marginal spots are scarlet ; the ab- dominal region is ochreous ; below, the wings are very similar to those of the female, but brighter in colouring ; tbe secondaries are coloured much as in some Bomaleosoma', pale yellow, tinted with rosy, with a bright rosy flush in cell, and on the sub-marginal spots, the costal area being tinted with greenish : it mimics Acrcea Egina of Cramer, although the female certainly bears a nearer resemblance to A. Menijype.
AcR^A, (5" ? , possibly a new species.
AcE^A, ? {Admatha group), probably a new species.
Mtcalesis, sp. apparently new.
Belexois IIedtle, ? , Cramer.
Epitola, sp.
PuTTALA ? two species : also three pretty little species of lolnus, one of which (described, I believe, by Hopffer) was rcpi'esented in the collection by eight or ten examples.
I may mention that the following species were also represented, and have, as I understand, since passed into Mr. Hewitson'a hands : — two examples of a fine Romaleosoma, R. Pratinus, several respectable specimens of llarma Egesta, witb other species of less interest.
British Museum : June, 1874.
1874.] ,'»0
NOTES OX BRITISH TORTRICES. BY C. G. BARKETT. {continued from J). 31).
Sn'icoris mlcana, Hiibn., Frol. — Dr. Wocke changes thla to oli- vana, Tr., but wherefore I cannot understand, for though he ap- pends a ? to his reference to Ililbner, he does not to Frolich, and his name is evidently two years older than that of Treitschke. I think, therefore, that micana, Frol., may safely be retained as the name of this species. An allied species, to which Treitschke gave the name of micana, is now altered to stihiana, Grn.
Set'icoris alternana, Wilk. (Curt. ?). — I do not think that this name can be assigned to Curtis. His description, as quoted by Stephens, is not applicable, or rather is more applicable to irriguana, or the dull, dark olive form of lacunana, which occurs along with alter- nana in Scotland. Wilkinson's description, however, is excellent, and his name must be the refei'ence appended to the species. Nevertheless, Dr. Wocke has made a most extraordinary mistake respecting it. He calls it ahernyiLLX, Wilk., and places it as a synonym of umhrosana, Freyer, a species closely resembling urticana, but larger, and having the horizontal pale streak in the dark fascia as in lacunana. From this alternana is very distinct. Mr. Doubleday in his List calls it Daleana, Dbld., on account of the existence of another alternana (or rather alternella) in the genus Sciaphila, and a third in CocJii/lis, but I see no fear of any confusion from the adoption of the same name in such distinct genera, and as, moreover, there is no description or figure appended to the name Daleana, I think it absolutely necessary to retain Wilkinson's name.
This species seems to be totally unknown on the Continent, but the female resembles some of the forms of irriguana or metallicana to some extent.
Sericoris irriguana, H.-S. — Recorded as British by ]\Ir. Nicholas Cooke (Ent. Mo. Mag., Vol. viii, p. 255), and noticed in the Ent. Ann., 1872, under the name of metallicana, Hiibn., of which species Dr. Wocke considers irriguana, H.-S., to be a variety.
Of metallicana, Hiibn., Heincmann writes (Tortricina, p. 119) — "Anterior wings olive-green dusted with bhickish, with two olive- " yellowish fasciae, margined wilh lustrous (hiik yellow lines, the pos- "terior fascia obli([ue, not forked.
"This species has, amongst its allies, tlie hiMndcst anterior wings '"with distinctly curved costa, and the hind margin not viry oblique.
00 : August,
" The pale fascijB are broadei', the posterior one runs iu a straight " direction towards the anal angle, whereby the dark middle fascia is "expanded towards the inner margin."
Of irriguana, H.-S., he says — " Anterior wings with slightly curved " costa and straight hind margin, olive-greenish, with more or less " distinct dark fasciae bordered by pale leaden lines. TJnicolorous " specimens of this species occur which are quite like sudetana, and " only to be distinguished from it by the less curved costa, the rather " straight but oblique hind margin, and the sharper pointed apex of " the anterior wings. Sometimes the costal streaks and the leaden "lines are almost entirely wanting, &c., &c."
Now, I have a series of specimens of this groiip from different parts of the Continent, labelled (rather promiscuously) metallicaiia and irriguana. Some (bearing each name) are broad winged, with curved costa ; hind margin not very oblique, and in the breadth and disposition of the fascia; also, agree closely with the above description of metalJicana. Others with narrower wings, straighter costa[andhind margin, and very pointed apex, agree exactly with the description of irriguana, and with our Scotch specimens, as also do Herrich-Schaffer's figures, 42i — 5. These Scotch specimens all belong to the variety without silvery lines (although Dr. White tells me that even these are slightly perceptible when the moths are alive). The majority of them are darkly marked as in Heinemaun's description, and a few are almost unicolorous, closely resembling sudetana, Standfuss. I am therefore satisfied that our insect is truly irriguana, and also strongly disposed to the opinion that it is distinct from metullicana, Tliibn., although the difficulty of deciding, from the similarity and parallel variation of the species of this group, is so great, that I should not feel at all surprised if the sight of series from new localities should com- pletely upset the conclusions that have now been arrived at with no little difficulty.
As no detailed description of irriguana has been published in this country, it may be worth while to append one, although that already quoted from Heinemaun is very clear.
Head, palpi, and thorax dark grcj. thickly sprinkled with pale yellowish soalcs ; antennae dark grey ; fore-wings pale buff with an olive tinge, and with dark greyish- brown markings ; basal blotch interrupted, produced on the fold almost to the central fascia ; central fascia also sometimes interrupted above the middle, irregular, toothed exteriorly. Beyond it is a blotcli at the anal angle, and an oblique cloud across the apical region ; sometimes these unite and form a fascia before the hind margin. On the costa towards the apex are three short streaks or spots ; cilia pale ochrcous dusted with black ; hind-wings dark grey ; cilia straw-coloured, with a dark hne at the base. •
1874.1 (jl
Tlic female is generally dark, the imirkings sometimes forming three irregnlar fascia-.
The males are very variable, some of them having hardly a trace of the dark markings, as already observed. Alar. csp. 7 — 8 lines.
The most nearly allied species that wc have is alternana, the females of which bear some resemblance to this species, but have broader, straighter fasciae, and less acute wings, while the males are much larger, with broad indLstinct fascia?, and the costa and hind margin more rounded than in either irrlguana, metallicana, or sndetana, so that there is little danger of mistaking it.
As recorded in the Ent. Ann. by Dr. Knaggs, irrifpiana has only been taken as yet in Inverness-shire and on the mountains near Braemar, in Britain, and I am indebted to Dr. F. Buchanan Wliite for the opportunity of examining the fine series which he has obtained in llie latter locality.
I have no knowledge that the allied metallicana, Hiibn., has ever been taken in this island, although Scotland is given as one of its localities by Dr. Wocke.
Sericoris fuligana. Haw. — Called by Mr. Doubleday, in his List, abscissatia, Gn., MSS., but Haworth's description is tolerably accurate, and I think his name should be retained, as there is little probability of the species being confounded with PcnfJiina fuJiijana, Iliibn.
Sericoris cespitana, Hiibn. — In some localities an exceedingly variable species, in others more constant.
Sericoris Douhledni/ana, Barrett. — Described in the Ent. l\f o. Mag., Vol. viii, p. 216, and Ent. Ann., 1873, p. 45. Since taken in some numbers in the Norfolk fens.
Sericoris politana, Haw. — Called by Mr. Doubleday, in his List, lepidana, Curt., but Haworth's is the earliest name. Sylvana, Tr., is the paler variety of this, and is united with it by Dr. Wocke.
He places this species, with Cnephasia cinctana, among the typical Tortrices in the genus Lophoderus, between ochreana, Hiibn., and miiiistrnna, Linn., and, at a greater distance, between the species of the genera Tortrix and Lozotcenia of AVilkinson.
Sericoris littoralis, Curt. — This species is liable to curious varia- tions, some specimens being totally destitute of the typical markings, and having f;iiiit oblique clouds only on the fore-wings.
Sericoris enphorhintia, Err. — AVithin the last few years this species has been re-discovered on the south coast, and its larva foinid feeding upon spurge. Many specimens have been reared by my friend I\Ir. Howard Vaughan, and others.
62 i August.
Sn-icoris latifasciano, Haw. — M. Jourdheuille says of this species : — " Larva in silken tubes under moss on trees."
Scricoj'is hifanciaim, Haw. — I have found this species occasionally in Norfolk.
llixodia Schulzlana, Fab. — I found this species rather common in Woolmer Forest some years ago, the specimens being large and very richly marked. Specimens from Germany and Switzerland are, howcA^er, much larger.
Mixodia paJnstrana, Zell.
Lohesia relwunna, Wilk. — Prof. Zeller assures me that this is not reliquana, hui permixtana, Hiibn., and this, Mr. Stainton tells me, is confirmed by Hiibner's fignre. Haworth and Wood are therefore correct. Prof. Zeller has sent me specimens of reliquana,livi\sr\. (now known as hotrana, Schiff.), and these show it to be a broader-winged insect, with markings similar to those of our species, but all dilated and diluted. This sjiecies (botrana) feeds on vine, but ours (permix- tana) seems partial to oak. IM. Jourdhciiille, however, states that its larva feeds on Anclitisa officinalis. This requires confirmation.
Dr. Wocke, in his List, misapplies the reliquana of "Wilkinson and
Stainton's Manual, making it synonymous with hotrana, SchifF., and
not '^'\\\i permixtana, Iliibn., although he quotes Haworth and Wood
under the latter head.
{To he continuedj.
ADDITIONS TO THE LIST OF BEITISH HEMIPTERA. BY EDWARD SAUNDERS, F.L.S.
Ctmus melanocephalus, Fieb., Eur. Hem., p. 203, 2.
Head obscure brown, darker than the thorax. Thorax reddish-brown, generally darker at the sides, largely and deeply punctured, with a rather deep collar in front, from the middle of which runs a short, concolorous keel, scarcely reaching to the centre of the disc. Scutclhuii dark brown, without tmy central keel, strongly punc- tured, and in some specimens transversely rugose. Elytra lighter in colour than the thorax, each with a clouded sjjot near the basal angle of the membrane, largely and densely punctured all over. Posterior margin of the corium dark, especially at the apex. Membrane hyaline. Under-side reddish-brown. Length If — 2 lin.
On rushes, by sweeping, near Chobham, rather sparingly ; June, 1874.
Obs. — Diifers from botli our other species by the dark colour of the head, the concolorous keel of the thorax, and the absence of any keel on the scutellum. It is allied in shape to C. claviculus, but, be- sid.es the above characters, it may be distinguished from that species
18741 03
by the punctuation of the i-oi-iuni, wliicli i(< (.-lose and irregular all over ; whereas, in claviculus, along the claval suture, there are two regular sub-parallel rows of punctures, with a rather wide smooth space between them, while the rest of the coriuni is closely punctured.
LiTosoMA Douglas T, n. s. Pale green ; elavus, outer nerve of the coriuni, and the external margin of the cuneus, darker. Antenna; with a brownish tinge. After death, the head, the front of the thorax, the legs, and the sides of the elytra more or less widely, become of a yellowish-brown colour. Surface covered with short, curved, white hairs, mixed with longer nearly straight black ones ; these black hairs ai-e only observable under a strong lens. Membrane slightly clouded ; nerves pale greenish-yellow, yellowish- brown after death. Tarsi brownish, black at the apex. Antennae : first joint about two-thii'ds as long as fourth, second joint as long as third and fourth together, fourth about — or not quite — two-thirds as long as the third. Length 2 lines.
On broom, Woking, July, ISTl and 1874.
Obs. — The short third and fourth joints of the antennae will at once distinguish this species from its allies. I can find no description of any European species to agree with it, and therefore describe it as new. I have named it in honour of Mr. J. W. Douglas, who has rendered me much assistance in the study of this genus, and whose knowledge of our British Ileiniptera is so well known. Wandsworth : Jidy, 187-4.
Occurrence in Britain of Ahdera triguttata, Qyll. — I have much jileasuro in being able to record the capture in this country of Abdera triguttata, Gyll., a species occurring somewhat rarely in Sweden, France, and Germany. It is hardly to be compared with either of our other British Ahderee, but is a little like hifasciata, though larger and much broader (especially behind) in proportion, with the markings of the elytra very different. It varies somewhat (from l^- to IJ lines) in length and very much in colouration, some individuals being mostly lurid-testaceous, with the disc of the thorax, a small scutellar patch and a larger triangular marking on each elytron below the middle dark, whilst others (and those would seem to be the typo form) are pitchy-black, with two ligiit ovate spots below the scutellura, pointed to- wards the suture, down which the light colour runs narrowly until it forms a common larger pale spot before the apex. Every intei*mcdiate grade appears to exist : and, from tlie absence of mention by Gyllenhall or Thomson of any varieties in such a variable insect, it would seem that no largo numbers of it can have come imder the observation of either of those authors. The whole insect is very pubescent, rather coarsely punctured all over ; and has the two basal joints of the antenna) testaceous. Found, somewhat commonly, in company with Zilura firruginea, by my friend Mr. AUin and myself, under (and in cliinks of) bark uf young dead standing Scotch firs, at Aviemore, Inverness-shire, in the beginning of June last. It is one of the most fragile insects I ever met with.— G. C. Champion, 274, Walworth Eoad, London.— ./m/^^ \Oth, 1874.
64 [August.
Coleoptera at Aviemore, Inverness-shire. — In the bogiiiiiing of June last., Mr. Allin and I had about a fortnight's collecting in the above neighbourhood (a district hitherto, I believe, entirely unworked by entomologists), where, in addition to very extensive fir woods, which just now are in a young state of growth (the older trees having been all felled some years since), wo had the higher Gramjiians, Braeriach, Ben Muich Dhui, Cairngorm, &c., in our vicinity. Most of the species observed were (with one or two exceptions) similar to those found at Braemar, as might bo expected, Aviemore being only thirty miles north of that place, on the other side of the Grampians. We werCj doubtless, at the wrong time for many things, as several conspicuous common species did not put in an appearance ; however, what we did get was little and good. Amongst many other species captured by us, I mention the following : —
Carabus catemdatus ; an entirely black and also a pitchy coloured form occurred on the mountains, at an elevation of 3000 feet and upwards. Amara aJjiina ,- I found a single $ example of this very rare Bi-itish species in moss, at an elevation of about 2500 feet ; many days working failed to produce more. Hydroporus Q-lineatvs ; vars. occurred, in company with the type form, in which the dark lines on the elytra were almost obliterated. Agabus Solieri ; abundant in a clear weedless loch (which owed its supply of water to the great quantity of melting snow), on Braeriach, at an elevation of quite 3000 feet. The beetle was to be found in clusters of often a dozen, liiding under the stones at the edge, and easily captured by hand. A. guttatus oc- curred with it, but not a single bipustulatus. Oxgpoda riqncola, Eye, edinensis, Sharp, and aterrima ; under stones and in moss on the hills. Brt/oporus riigipennis and Mgcetoporus tenuis occurred very rarely in moss high up, generally near Ihe tops of the mountains ; I even found a specimen of the latter under a stone at the cairn on Bi-aeriach (4265 feet elevation). Xantholinus lentus ; very sparingly under bark of Scotch fir, not always caught when seen, as it is very fond of dropping the instant the bark is removed. Homalium Seeri (? vile var.) ; under bark of fir, in company with type vile. Rhizophagus politus, a very small individual under bark ; liitherto not recorded from Scotland. Cryptophagus parallelus, Bris. ; rarely, by beating cut fir tops lying on ground, and not accompanied by C. dentatus. Lathri- dius rtigosiis, with pitchy-brown elytra, in some small quantity, in the snuff-like fungus on alder so much liked by Liodes and Sphindus (I have recently taken the same Lathridius, wholly black, in the like fungus at Loughton). Trichius fasciatus ; dug out of a birch stump ; we were probably too soon for this species. Eros Aurora ; one, under birch bark. Ernobius nigrinus ; rarely, by beating dead fir tops. Cls punctulatus ; common, under fir bark, in company with Abdera iriguttaia. Zilora ferruginea ; rather commonly by barking young dead standing firs. It varies considerably in size (and colour) the larger speciiuens being fully twice the length of the smallest. Carida Jlexuosa ; rarely, in hard woody fungus on alder. Dirccea, Tetratoma ancora, Siud Orchesia minor; occasionally under fir bark. Anfhonomus varians and Magdalinus phlegmalicus ; rarely, by beating fir. Braohonyx indigena; common, but very local, one very hot sunny day (rare afterwards), by beating firs. This species drops very readily, and sticks to the first place it comes to, and if not found sticking round the edges of the beating net, takes a long time to find in the bottom of the net as it clings to, and hides amongst, the debris of the young shoots, i&c. Pi-^sodes iwtatus, Rhinomacer, Asemum, and Pogonocherus fasciculatus also occurred occasionally by beating fir. Hylastes cunicularis ; rare, by beating dead fir tops, &c. I might make this list vei'j much longer, but have only selected the most noteworthy species. — Id.
1874. J 65
Additions to the British list of TenthredinidcB.
Dinetira stilata, Klug, Bl;ittw., No. 72 ; Hartig, Blatfcw. und Holzw., 227, 2 ; Kematus stilatus, Tlioruson, Ilyincn. Scand., i, 82, 3. I captui'ed both sexes of this species at the end of last month on Pi/riis aueuparia in Cadder Wood.
Selandria grandis, Zaddach, Beschreibiing neuer oder wenig bekannter Blatt- wespen, p. 3G (1859),=5^. interstitialis, Thomson, Hymen. Scand., i, 237, 2 (1871). This species will, I believe, prove to be common in Britain ; but it is very apt to be passed over for the familiar -S". serva, with which it agrees nearly in colouration, but differs in a few other points, notably in having the second recurrent nervure joined to the second sub-marginal nervure ; and it is, moreover, a much larger insect. I have taken it in several places in Scotland, and have also seen an English example cap- tured by the Rev. T. A. Marshall. It is very desirable that both forms should be bred, in order to see if the larvfe differ.
Xematus histrio, Le Pel., ^NFonographia Tcnthredinetarum, G3, 185 (1823),= N. rufescens, Hartig, Blattw., 191, 15 (1837) ; Thomson, Hymen. Scand., i, 130, 56. Bred from a pale green larva, with a darker green dorsal line, bordered on each side by another line, which, when the creature is feeding, is white; and all three disappear after it has spun up. . The sides are dotted with small points. The larvse were dis- covered (not uncommonly) feeding on Salix aurita,on the hill-sides at Glenclg, in June, and spun up at the end of that mouth or the beginning of July, the flies ap- pearing the following spring.
I noticed a curious circumstance with two of these larvsE ; the^ inhabited one com- mon cocoon, which was a little more than double the ordinary size, and was also of a much more oval shape. Probably, it was merely two cocoons joined together; but there was no partition separating the inhabitants. I do not at present recollect whether they reached the perfect state or not. — P. Cameron, Jun., 136, West Graham Street, Glasgow : 1-ith Julij, 1874.
Chrysopa teneJla, cf'c, at Weybridge. — On the 4th inst., I took two examples of this rare or overlooked species in St. George's Hill Wood. C. aspersa, ventralis, and Jlaii/rons, were all tolerably common ; but Nothochrysa capitata, of which I captured an example at this place last summer, was not to be seen. To my horror, I found that my favourite ponds in the wood had been di'ained off, but PyrrJiosoma tenellum still lingered. A single Ephemera proved to bo the recently described E. lineata, Eaton. — R. McLachlan, Lewisham : 9/A July, 1874.
Note on Bolivian Rhopalocera. — Mr. Buckley, who has been out to Bolivia for me, has just returned with a very valuable collection of butterflies. He had received Bome packages in such a mutilated state that ho at once resolved to be his own carrier of the collection which he was just about to send.
Like his former collections, it is in a state of the greatest perfection, and contains many new and some rare and splendid species : amongst them, Moipho Oodarti, and M. Aurora. He had watched the Morpho Oodarli for some time frequenting a grassy ledge upon the face of a precipice, hoping, but in vain, that it would come within his reach. He had to bo let down by a rope to obtain it.
I have not yet examined the collection sufliciently to ascertain the number of new species, but have no difllculty in saying that there will be at least fifty : some of them very remarkable. Mr. Buckley will return to Bolivia again shortly. — W. C. Hewitson, Oatlands : July Wth, 1874.
66 iAujfii«t.
Description of the larva, Sfc, of Erastriafuscula.— To Mr. Ot. C. Bignell, of Devonport, my best thanks are due, not only for kindly supplying me with the larva of this species last autumn, but also for clearing up what had been the reason of my failing to procure it before.
One night in the autumn of 1857, the year in which I began collecting, I found a twelve-footed larva walking on the ground, which spun up at once, and during the next summer produced E. fuscula. Not having found it on its food, and seeing that the books with one consent gave bramble as the food, for many subsequent years I used to beat the brambles in tlie same locality, hoping to get more larvae ; and when I could take the moths, I used to shut them up with bramble sprays in order to try for eggs. But in neither case were my efforts successful, — and why ? Last autumn, Mr. Bignell, whilst sweeping herbage at night, took several larvte off a stiff grass, MoUnia coerulea, growing in damp places ; these, on examination, he concluded to he fuscula, and this summer has proved his conclusion to be correct.
The secret of our previous puzzle is now out ; one might have beaten brambles for ever without finding a larva.
The larvae came to me on September 10th, 1873, and spun up by the end of the month ; the moths appeared during the last week of May, 1874.
The full-grown larva is about three-quarters of an inch long, rather slender, and even in bulk throughout ; the twelfth and thirteenth segments taper a little ; the head full and round ; fully developed ventral legs on segments nine and ten, with rudiments of legs on segment eight : in walking it is a semilooper ; the colour on the back is pale yellow with a broad greenish pulsating dorsal vessel ; the sub-dorsal is a thin line of clear yellow edged above with brown, and below with greenish ; the round black spiracles placed on a thin reddish line ; anal legs sometimes purplish ; the usual dots on the back blackish ringed with reddish ; the belly yellow, with its dots black.
Some of the larvae have a more reddish tint, and have every line edged with decided red ; with a brownish stripe between the lower edging of the sub-dorsal and the spiracular line, and below this again a yellow line, then a red line, and the belly dull, pale brownish.
The cocoon is very firmly and neatly made of a thin coating of silk, stuck all over with fine earth or sand, about four lines deep and two wide. Some spun among moss, by lai-voe, which died, wore not so close or tough, and were both longer and ■wider.
The pupa is about five-sixteenths of an inch long, cylindrical, stoutish about the thorax, the abdomen smaller and short in proportion, ending rather bluntly in a spike set with several curled-topped spines ; the pupa skin very glossy, rich red- brown ; the wing-cases more golden-brown ; the eyes blackish.
By the kind help of the Rev. T. A. Marshall, I am able to add that the name of the ichneumon, which was bred about the middle of April from some of the cocoons, is Protelus chrysophthalmns. A saw-fly larva much resembling that oi fuscula in colour, feeds with it on the same grass, but I have not found out to what species it belongs ; and I shall leave some one else to guess which of the two is the first wearer, and which the mimic, of the colours of their common dress. — J. Hellixs, Exeter : 14^;* July, 1874.
Description of the larva, (^'c, of Pyrausta punicealis. — For larvae of this species I am indebted to Jlr. W. H. Harwood, who found them somewhat plentifully last
1874.1 67
^•ear Oil Nepeta cataria ; he had previously noticed that the perfect insects were never found far away from that phiiit, and hence, suspecting that the larvae fed on it, he searched for tliem with success.
The larvoj (of the second brood) reached me on September 25th, 1873, feeding on the mint flower-heads under a confused covering of silken threads, for their work could not be called regular galleries ; and they continued to feed for about three weeks ; then they spun up in very tough cocoons of pale brownish silk, but how long they remained before turning to pupae I cannot say. I bred some moths between the 16th and 23rd May, 1874, yet some little time after this date, viz., on June 11th, Mr. Buckler, on examining some of his cocoons in order to obtain a pupa case, found several larvae still unchanged though quite alive. Whether these will remain on till the appearance of the August moths of the present year, or until the May brood of next year, we have not of course yet the power of deciding.
The full-grown larva is a little more than five-eighths of an inch in length (perhaps it grows longer when at large, for all the moths we bred were small, showing our larv£E had not attained full development), stoutest at segments eight, nine, and ten, thence tapering very rapidly to the tail, and more gradually to the head, which is the smallest segment ; the colour is a dull green on the back, the dorsal line being of the same, only marked off with edgings of yellow ; the spiracular stripe broad and yellowish, with a faint greenish line through it ; the head and second segment pale brownish freckled with black ; below the spiracles a double greenish line ; the belly pale yellowish ; all the usual dots distinct, being shining black and naiTOwly ringed with yellow ; when full fed the larva becomes pinkish.
There seems to be a variety whieh is all over pale greenish, with no darker stripes or lines ; and another which has a pale blotch of yellowish ground colour on the back of the twelfth and thirteenth segments.
The pupa is cylindrical, slender, the abdomen ending in a flattened blunt pro- jection, beset at right angles with some curled-topped spines. — Id. : \Mh July, 1874.
Description of Ihe larva of Ayrolis (Xoclua) siihrosea. — On a turf-moss at Kurtcn- hof, near Riga, where I used to collect along with Herr Teich (tlie discoverer of the larva of Costnopteryx Lienigiella'), Agrotis subrosea, Steph., occurs sparingly from the 22nd July to the latter half of August, in company with Caiocala pacta, L., Luperina Haworlhii, Curt., IFydracia nictitans, Bkh., &c. ; it is Staudiugcr's variety subccerulea (the Agr. subrosea, Herrich-Schaffcr, figs. 51G, G22).
At the end of May, 1870, I beat three of the larva; of this species in the evening twilight from Andromeda polifolia, L. In captivity they also ate several species of willow {iSalixfragili.<i,'L., S. alba, L., S. rosmarinifoliaj . Not being acquainted with any description of the larva of this species, I here give one from the three larva; col- lected by me at Kurtenhof. If tlie early stages of the typical English species are known, a comparison with this description may help to show whether the variety which occurs in Livonia and Finland should bo considered as a distinct species, or remain only a form of the English A. subrosea.
Diagn. : grey -brown, with a tinge of violet ; three pale violet-grey dorsal lines, and one sub-dorsal line of the same colour; the spiracular line sulphur-coloured ; head chestnut-brown ; second segment ferruginous ; anal segment violet-grey ; legs cinnamon-coloured.
gg [August.
The ground culour varies from dark brown to violet-grey, more or less tinged with violet. The dorsal and sub-dorsal lines are pale violet-grey, only very rarely blueish-whitc, in which case, however, this colour predominates in the narrower central dorsal line. Anterior legs bright cinnamon-coloured, the same as the spiracles ; prologs pale cinnamon-colonred.
Eight days before pupation the larva appears with a broad gi'cy band along the back, whicli is very distinct from the ground colour, but this vanishes again in two or three days, so that the back then only looks a little paler ; the spiracular line assumes a darker shade ; the dorsal lines become paler and unconnected ; the sub- dorsal lines and generally also the non-central dorsal lines seem to consist of small irregular spots, and assume a darker shade.
Between the dorsal spots on segments four to six, there appears an oblique, dark shade, which is wanting on the other segments, and the first of these is especially conspicuous as a horse-shoe-shaped mark. Here and there the larva appears as though dark shaded or violetish, especially the segments on the back, where the shading from the distance shows itself acutely-angular.
Some four days later, the ground colour is faintly violet, here and there shining through greenish ; the violet colour being most distinct at the incisions of the segments. The yellow spiracular line is shaded with dark above and below, the shading most intense above and around the spiracles. The second segment and anal prologs ferx'uginous ; the head dark chestnut-brown. The fine dorsal lines and the sub-dorsal lines only faintly indicated as though formed of dot-like dusting. On the anterior segments these lines, especially those on the back, still remain revj distinct : the central one bluish-white, the lateral lines yellowish. The shade between the dorsal spots on segments three to five is pale brown ; horse-shoe mark dark brown ; anal segment violet-grey.
Shortly before pupation the larva becomes violet-grey, finely sprinkled with brown ; the spiracular line pale yellow, with faint shading, which has become more concentrated round the spiracles. The dorsal spot shading is strongest on segment three, fainter on segment four, and feeblest on segment five. The wedge-shaped marks on the incisions of the segments violetish, most distinct from the fourth and fifth.
The imago escaped from the somewhat compressed pale brown pupa after an interval of twenty-eight to thirty days. — Cael Beeg, Musco Publico, Buenos Ayrcs : October 9th, 18/3. [Translated from the Stettin. Entomolog. Zeitung, 187-i, p. 146.]
iVo?a albulalis, ^'c, in North Kent. — On Monday morning last, the 13th inst., I left home for five days' collecting in North Kent, in company with the Rev. T. W. Daltry, of Modeley. A day or two before, Mr. Daltry, who had been there the week previous, had written me he had found out the locality for JS^ola albulalis, and to collect this species was my principal inducement for going. Monday evening we went to the marshes and iouudi Acidalia emutaria not nnco\x-iv:ior\ ; next morning we found an abundance of Acidalia rusticata on two elm hedges ; the afternoon and evening we spent in the albulalis locality, and took the species very freely ; "Wednesday and Thursday evenings we had equal success, albulalis flying in abundance, indeed, at cue time, standing in one spot, I took them as they flew past as fast as I coidd box them. Friday evening we went again, but were astonished to find that not a speci-
•
1874.] ()9
men was to be seen ; we could only accuiuit for it by the fact that the weather had become colder and the ground damp ; but do what we would, neither of us could find a specimen. Next day I returned home. Other ie/^ic?o^^era were plentiful; Apatura Iris was not uncommon about the oaks in one place ; and Pterophorus rhododactyJus ♦ 'ccurred about rose. Albulalis is easily disturbed from the grass and low under- wood in (he daytime ; and flies freely, for a short time only, just at dusk, very slowly^ and not far from the ground. Though small, its pale colour makes it very con- spicuous, and the marvel to me is that it has been a rarity for so long. — Geo. T. POHEITT, Huddersfield : July 20tk, 1874.
ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF LoNDON : 1*^ June, 1871. — The Pi-esidcnt in the Chair.
Mens. Achille Guenee, of Chateaudun, was elected an Honorary IVfembcr in the place of M. Guerin-Meneville, deceased ; and A. Ogier Ward, Esq., of Tutney, was elected a Subscriber.
Mr. McLachlan exhibited winged individuals, larvre, pupse, and soldiers of the wliite ant (Calotennes sp.) recently bred at Kcw from the wood of the copal tree.
Mr. Stainton read a letter from the Ecv. P. H. Newnham, of Stonehouse, Devon, stating that he had just taken two examples of Deiopeia pulchella on the Cornish side of the river Tamar, and was willing to dispose of them, the proceeds to go to a church-building fund. Mr. Stainton incidentally remarked on the exceptional time of appearance of the insect in this country.
Mr. C. O. Waterhouse sent for exhibition a living (immature, though considerably advanced) example of Empusa pauperaia brought from Hyere by the Rev. Mr. Sanders. He had tried to feed it with flies, but without success. Mr. Stainton suggested that a live spider should be placed before it ; he had found this to succeed with an example brought by himself from the south of France.
Mr. W. D. Gooch, of Natal, communicated a detailed aceount of his experiences with regard to the Longicorn colTce-borcr of that colony, explaining the plans adopted to check the ravages apparently caused by the beetle. Mr. Gooch mentioned that the managers of neighbouring estates informed him that on a north and north-cast aspect they found as much as ninety per cent, of the plants attacked by the larvae, ■whereas, on cold slopes with a south-west and south-east aspect, the insect was not present, although the mortality in the plants was about the same. Any suggestion as to the destruction of insectivorous birds was useless in this case, because no birds were destroyed. Dr. Honi (of Philadelphia) stated that European conifers, limes, &c., planted in a public park in Philadelpliia, were all killed by the larva) of native species, though apparently in a healthy condition, and native trees were not per- ceptibly affeclcd. Mr. McLachlan reiterated that, according to the observations of Eui'opean entomologists, the majority of the European species do not attack living healthy wood.
Mr. Butler communicated a paper on new species and a new genus of Diurnal Lepidoptera m the collection of Sir. Druco.
ilr. Smith read a revision of the Hymenopterous genera Cleptes, Parnopes, Pyria, Anlhrocia.i, and Slilbiiim, combining also new exotic species of Chrysis. The genus Anlhravias formed a subject of special interest, because no one had, apparently, recognised it since Klug published his brief generic characters ; but Mr. Smith had found an example among a series of Parnopes cornea that formerly belonsierl to ;\rr. Sliueknrd.
7q [August,
3'
euietr.
The Btjtteeflies of North America, with coloured dra\yiiigs and descriptions ; by W. H. Edwards. Second series, part i. New York, Hurd and Houghton ; London, Triibner and Co. May, 1874.
Mr. Edwards has commenced a second series of his magnificent work, and the first part of it fully maintains, both in plates and descriptive matter, the almost unrivalled excellence of the first series. It is devoted to species of Fapilio, Anthocaris, Argynnis, Libythea, and Chionolas, and in several there are copious illustrations of all the stages from the egg upward. Apart from the beauty of the plates (which could scarcely be surpassed for fidelity), the letter-press must commend itself to the scientific entomologist from the careful way in which the descriptions are made, and from the very copious and interesting geographical notes.
JK. 6r. Keeley. Mr. Keelcy died of consumption at Southampton on the 28th June, aged 38. He was known to many entomologists as a quiet and unassuming collector of British Coleoptera, of which he had a good general knowledge. We believe he was originally in the service of a well-known firm of natural history lithographers, which possibly brought out his taste for entomological pursuits, and for many years past he was an employe of a large East Indian Agency, and being transferred to the Southampton branch, he took up his residence in that town. He seldom published notes, but his name appears occasionally in the various entomo- logical periodicals, probably for the first time in the ' Intelligencer ' for 1858. He leaves a widow and three childi'en.
George Robert Crotch, 31. A. It is our painful duty to announce the loss of one of the most widely-known of British, or even of European entomologists. George Robert Crotch, M.A., died at Philadelphia, U. S., on the 16th Juno last. When quite a youth. Crotch already displayed a love for entomology ; this manifested itself at first, as is so often the case, by his commencing the formation of a collection of Lepidoptera ; in this he was very successful, and, while an under- graduate at Cambridge, he captured in the fens of the district many rare and little- known species of this order. At the same time he was also occupied in the formation of a collection of British Coleoptera, and, during the years 1860-63, discovered numerous species of this order not then known to inhabit the Bi'itish Islands, and recorded their occurrence in the pages of the Zoologist.
In the year 1863 he obtained his degree of M.A. at Cambridge, by graduating in the Natural Science Tripos.
By this time the order Coleoptera had entirely engrossed Crotch's entomological attention, and in the same year (1863) he published a Catalogue of British Coleoptera. This Catalogue contained the names of a great many species not before recorded as British, and, as it differed much both in arrangement and nomenclature from the Catalogues of British Coleoptera that had preceded it in this country, it attracted much attention, and was much discussed by entomologists. Wliatever may be thought of some of the changes adopted in this work (and many of them are, and pro.bably will be for long, points under discussion), it was undobtedly a valuable
1874.] 71
contribution to our knowledge of the Britisli insect fauna, and liad an important effect in stimulating his fellow-labourers to further researches, and it obtained for its author a prominent place among the entomologists of this country.
Crotch was always a most enthusiastic and skilful collector of insects, and in the year 18G4, visited the Canary Islands in company with his brother, Mr. W. D. Crotch, for the purpose of collecting the Coleoptera of the Islands. So successful were these two collectors, that, notwithstanding the fact that T. V. WoUaston, J. Gray, as well as W. D. Crotch himself, and others, had previously collected Coleoptera assiduously in these islands, they added no less than seventy-seven species to the Canarian fauna.
On his return to England, Crotch accepted an appointment in the University library at Cambridge, and devoted his leisure time to the study of the species of British Coleoptera, and commenced a laborious investigation of the ancient literature of entomology, with a view to establishing a correct nomenclature for our species. At an early period of these researches he had become dissatisfied with his published Catalogue of British Coleoptera, and for this reason, produced in 1866 a second edition, in which some of the undoubted errors and omissions of the first edition were remedied, and which was intended to serve as a temporary stop-gap till he should be able to complete a more elaborate and perfect edition.
In 1865 he visited Spain, in company with several other members of the En- tomological Society of France ; and in 1870 he repeated his visit to that productive country in company with an English friend, and on both occasions brought back with him collections of Coleoptera, remarkable, not only for their extent, but for the number of rare and new species they contained.
In the year 1867 Crotch published, in the Proceedings of the Zoological Society of London, a complete enumeration of the Coleoptera of the Azores, accompanied by descriptions of new species found there by Messrs. Godman and Brewer.
Although liis collections had by this time become very considerable aiul required much of his time. Crotch pursued with untiring industry his studies of the literature of entomology, and published, besides a large number of corrections of the Catalogue of Coleoptera of Gemminger and Von Harold, a list of all the Coleoptera of the group Adephaga, described from the year 1758 — 1821, referring tliem to their modern genera ; this he did with the hope of assisting others who, like himself, were engaged in attempting to cleanse the Augean stable of entomological nomenclature. This work was published at Cambridge in 1871, and by this time he was recognized by the best judges to be the man who had a more detailed acquaintance with the ancient literature of entomology than any other living student. This paper had, indeed, been preceded by one published in the Transactions of the Entomological Society of London, entitled " the genera of Coleoptera studied chronologically (1735 — 1801)," which was, and probably will long continue to be, of great use by pointing out to Zoologists the great difficulties that encumber any attempt to deal in a systematic manner with entomological nomenclature. In 1871 he also published a synopsis containing abbreviated descriptions of all the new species of Coleoptera belonging to the European and Mediterranean faunas that had been described during the year 1868 ; this little production cost a vast amount of investigation ; and it is much to be regretted that it has not been continued by some other student, as Crotch had hoped it would be. By this time. Crotch, whose enthusiasm for the study of entomology seemed to take always wider and wider limits, had engaged himself in the investi-
72 [August, 1874.
gation of the CoccinellidcE and Eroti/UdcB of the entire world ; he speedily amassed very important collections in these groups, and published in 1871 a list of the Coc- cinellidce of the world, and also prepared for publication a revision of the family CoccinellideB, which, though not yet published, will, it is expected, be shortly issued from the Cambridge University press.
At this time he was acting as sub-editor of the Zoological Record. In the autumn of 1872, he left Europe with the intention of making an entomological journey round the world, and passed to the United States, where he spent the winter of 1872-3 in studying the Coleoptera of North America. So energetically did he carry on these studies that he was able to publish a catalogue called a " Check list of the Coleoptera of America, north of Mexico ; " as well as various extensive memoirs on important groups of the North American Coleopterous fauna, viz. : " Materials for the study of the Fhytopliaga of the United States," " Notes on the species of jBvl- prestideB found in the United States ; " both of which tave been published in the proceedings of the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia : also " Synopsis of the JErotyUdce of boi'eal America," " Synopsis of the Endomychidce of the United States," "Revision of the CoccinellideB of the United States," and "Revision of the Di/tiscidcB of the United States," all of which were published in the Transactions of the American Entomological Society. During the same winter he also read a paper before the American Philosophical Society, " On the arrangement of the families of Coleoptera." In the production of these papers, he no doubt received much assistance from the great American coleopterists, Messrs. Leconte and Horn ; but, making all due allowance for this, these works exhibit an amount of activity almost without parallel, we should think, in the annals of entomological literature. In the spring of 1873, he went to California, and passed tlie summer in making an entomological exploration of that country, Oregon, and the Eraser River district. In this task he was most successful, for he not only brought back with him a vast amount of material, but it is estimated that this contained no less than three hundred species new to science. Returning to the Atlantic coast in the autumn of last year, he commenced work at the Cambridge Museum of Comparative Zoology, where he had accepted an appointment offered him by Agassiz. But, after the death of Agassiz, his connection with the Museum soon terminated ; as by this time the pidmonary complaint which had attacked him during his first winter in the United States, de- clared itself in an unmistakeable manner, and made such rapid progress, that he died at Philadelphia on the 16th of June last.
Crotch was a man of genial and courageous disposition, and to such of us as have lost in him a friend as well as the entomologist, the loss is indeed a grievous one. His powers of work were enormous, and there can be no doubt that he often (we might say habitually) overtaxed himself; he really appeared to have no thought of taking care of himself, and it is no doubt to these tilings, in conjunction with the trying climate of the United States during the winter, that the development of the illness which has deprived us of him is to be attributed. He was, we believe, only 33 years of age, and was cut off at the moment when his faculties might have been expected to have taken a still higher development ; had his judgment matured and become equal to his other powers, he would have ranked amongst the very first of the entomologists of the world. As he was, " take him for all in all, we shall not look upon his like again."
Scptciuber, 1S74 ] ^jj
DESCEIPTIOX OF THE LAKVA AND PUI'A OF BEILELULILA EUPROllBIM.
BY WILLIAM BUCKLER.
Ill 1859, I figured tins species from a larva sent mc ]iy a corres- poiideiit ill Jersey, but, none tlie less, I was desirous to see a living example again, for in the interval 1 knew my eyes had been educated continually to see more and more in my subjects, and I felt I might then have passed over something in such a difficult task, which I could now detect at once.
My surprise, therefore, was more than equalled by my delight when on the 7tli of August, liS72, there came to me four larva', which a few days before had been found feeding on Eupliorhia ci/parissias in the Forest of Fontainebleau by Mr. Evan John, whose kindness in taking the pains to bring them to England as a contribution to my work I remember most gratefully.
On their journey to me, they had stripped to the bare stems the food put in with them, and appeared restless and hungry ; my first precaution was to separate them, and supply them with some ]£iipho)'hia peplus gQ.t\iCV(i(iivova.t]xc garden, and on this substituted food three of them began to satisfy their cravings ; the largest, how- ever, refused to touch it, and, as it appeared to be full fed, I set to work at once to secure its portrait ; an operation which, from the complicated nature of its details, and the irrilability and restlessness of the subject, was not completed till the afternoon of the next day, wlieu I ])laced the larva in a pot with sand and food, and in a few hours it spun itself u[) on the sand under some spurge and moss.
Meanwhile, a friend had kindly undertaken for mc an expedition to the coast, bringing back a good supply of plants as well as gathered branches of Euphorbia parallas and p>orthinilica ; the plants I potted, and the branches I gave to the feeding larva*, and it was a pleasure \o witness their enjoyment of this more congenial fare. The Euphorbia prjduH they bad been eating had evidently been regarded as a mere \\\\v\ and tlicir a|)])clil(> now seemed insatiable; eacli larva t'inhraccd till' sea-spurge with all its legs, and ate voraciously, and at length, wIh'u coin|)cl!cd to stoj), it wouM go to 8lee|) without cliange of posi- tion, anil witli a partly tlcvonrcd leal" in its jaws; and tlu>n, alter a few minutes' repose, it w(uild wake up, finish the leaf, and attack whatever came next — leaves or seed vessels — most vigorously ; there was no walking about, the only movement was a step or two backward as the stem .shortened bcneatli il.^ jaws,
71' [Soiitcmbcr,
From this time their beliaviour was most satisfactory. Luckily they were all of different ages, though all in their last moult, and I was able, without anxiety for the others, to devote my whole energies to one at a time ; and so in turn they all sat to me — or rather I may say ate before me — during eight days while I was closely at work, and never sulked or shraiik wlieu the sun shone on them, or when for closer inspection I took them in my hand : only as each matured, and ceased feeding, it grew active and lively, and exhil)ited its capacity of walking at a great pace for a day or two before settling down to its change.
The smallest of the four had, apjiarently, just undergone its last moult when it i-eachcd me, and it was then just one and a quarter inch long ; the dates for their making up Avere respectively August 8th, 14th, 17th, and 18th. The earliest pupa Avas figured on the 21st of October, when, on searching for the others, the latest larva was found to have died without turning, although it had made a perfect cocoon.
Emboldened by a former success in forcing several galii to per- fection in 1870 — 71, I resolved to hazard the three pupae of eupliorlice in a similar experiment. On the evening of the day in which I had disturbed them, I packed them in the forcing box with moss, and placed them at first on the iron plate of a kitchen stove over the boiler ; here the situaiion was warm through the greater part of the night, and quite hot by day, when the bottom of the box was elevated two inches above the hot plate by aid of two strips of wood on which the box rested ; Iiere they were damped witli lukewarm water twice a day ; on the 23rd November, a fine and perfect moth came from the earliest pupa, but after that my efforts were baffled ; the two remaining pujjSB continued lively, but the moths would not appear ; I moved the box to a place before my sitting room fire, but without effect ; and at last I came to the conclusion that I ought not to have hegun the forcing till the iceather had become dry and frosty ; then the heat woiild have had due effect, but as it was, the great liumidity of the atmosphere had prevented this, and sullicient heat had not reached the pupa; to develop the imago in them at once.
After continuing my forcing till tlie end of December, I put tlie pupa? aside to wait for suunuer, but before that time came they had died.
Of course I can say nothing of tlie larva when young, but I may notice the appearance of tlic two smaller ones when they first came to me. The ground coloin- of Ihe smallest was black ; the next in size was blackish-green, and with a muUitude of small bright yellow
i^'i] 7.".
dots, eoutrastccl with lavL^'cr spots of yellow tiiigecl ceutrally with a rosy liue : for the rest I shall describe one full-grown larva, and men- tion the variations of detail in the others, as each preserved its indi- vidual points of difference to the last.
The full-grown larva measured from three to three and a (quarter inches in length, being in proportion a trifle more slender than f/alit\ though otherwise similar in form, being plump and cylindrical, tapering considerably from the fourth segment to the head, which is the smallest segment, and is rounded in outline ; tapering a little also at the two hinder segments, the twelfth having a rough, blunt-tipped horn curving a little backw^ards ; each segment from the fifth to the twelfth is subdivided into seven rings by well-defined wrinkles, the front ring equal in width to three or four of the others ; the skin generally smooth and shining ; the anal pair of legs larger than each ^■entral pair, and of a squarish form ; the segments appear more plump and swelling on the ventral than on the dorsal surface. As to colour, two individuals were of the same type, the ground colour of the skin only varying in intensity from a bronze-green to a deeper blackish- bronze ; the head blood-red, the mouth and base of papillae pale yellow, the former margined above and below, and the latter surrounded, with black ; the dorsal stripe blood-red in colour, widened on the second segment in a curve on either side downwards, suggestive of a plate, but from thence continued of about uniform w'idth to the anal flap, which is also red ; the horn is of the same colour, but with black tip, and glistening ; in these larva) the sub-dorsal region bore a row of very blunt wedge-shaped red marks, widest at the hinder part, and pointing forwards, and a row of large roundish or dumpy pear-shaped bright ochreous-yellow spots slightly tinged above with pink (on the twelfth segment of a longer pear-shape, with the stem pointing to the horn), and below these another such row only paler, and irregular in shape from a fold in the skin, these spots on each front broad ring being much surrounded with black; below these come a few small dots of white, and then in its place — rather behind again — the whitish oval spiracle; the hinder narrow rings of each segment — whether in the red wedges or on the ground colour — bore transverse rows of thickly set yellow dots: the puffed region below the Kpirncles showed red interruptedly, but w ithout any dots ; beneath this again, a patch of the dark ground colour, sprinkled with white dots ; the tips of the ventral and anal legs blood-red; the anterior legs orange-ochreous tipped with black.
The variety which may be termed ihe >V(/, from the great (juantity
76 [September,
it posBessed of tLis colour, had the first or broad ring of each segment of a black ground colour, and the narrow I'ings of a bronzy-green, tho wedge shapes of red in the sub-dorsal region extended along each seg- ment from their greatest breadth at the last ring to the blunt apex close to the broad front ring ; the dots of yellow above and whitish below, and the double series of large spots were as described above ; all the rings suddenly interrupted by the inflated and rather tortuous broad sub-spiracular region coloured red ; below this on each segment came a pear-shaped patch of bronzy-green dotted with white, all the rest of the belly and legs were red, but inclining at the segmental divisions to deep ochreous or greenish-ochreous, as the above-mentioned red wedge marks did in the same j^lace ; a few yellow dots were at the segmental divisions in the sub-spiracular region ; the black plate on the second segment margined with red ; the red head and dorsal stripe, &c., as in the other varieties.
The black variety had no sub-dorsal wedge marks ; the first ring in each segment with black ground, the others with greenish-black ground, dotted and spotted with bright sulphur-yellow above, and white below ; very little of the sub-spiracular region was inflated, and was coloured crimson-red and ochreous, the red in the middle blending gently with the ochreous at each segmental division ; the anterior edge of the second segment yellow, a large round black spot on the top of each lobe of the crimson head, the anterior half of the anal legs black, the rest crimson, the same coloured dorsal stripe quite narrow, and the anal flap black margined with crimson.
I must not now omit to mention a handsome variety of this larva, brought home in spirits from Cairo by Mr. Jenner Eust, which I thankfully received in May, 1871, through my friend Mr. Ilellins, and figured ; this had the broad ring on each segment black, the ground colour on the others of the deepest blackish-olive; the head, the plate on the second segment, the dorsal stripe, the legs, anal flap and caudal horn blood-red ; the double series of large spots creamy-whitish; the upper rows of small dots pale yellow, the lower rows white; the sub-dorsal truncated-wedge shapes of deep ochreous, and largely developed ; the inflated sub-spiracular region, belly, and ventral legs, of deep ochreous or buff colour ; a pear-shaped blotch of dark olive dotted with white situated below the sub-spiracular region on each segment ; the ventral legs ti^jped with red, anterior legs red.
• The cocoons were of a very firm texture, s\nin with strong and coarse silk threads attached to some leaves of spurge above, aJid with
1874.] 77
some sand inlcrwovcn, and in oacli instance ilrinly fastened toilies^ide of tlie pot, and snnk alxiiit lialf-;in-ineli beliiw tlie surface of the sand, BO that if was immoveable, though the sand was Liose ; the interior of the cocoons beautifully smooth, with fine silken lining.
The pupa one and five-eighths of an inch in length, and half-an- inch in diameter, tapering a little from the thorax towards the frontal extremity, where it is rather smooth ; the wing cases pressed close to the body ; the abdominal rings in tolerable relief ; the outline tapers a little near the anal tip, which ends in a broad, flattish, downward- curved spike pointed at its extremity, the remains, apparently, of the caudal horn of the larva.
The colour a dingy, deep brick-red above, fading a little beneath to more of a flesh colour, and thickly covered with minute blackish punctures ; the wing-covers dark brownish much freckled and finely streaked with blackish, as are also the head, antennpe, eye, and leg- and trunk-cases ; the segmental divisions of the abdomen dull purplish- red, and quite smooth, while the parts between them are roughened by black pits or punctures on a rather shining ground ; a dorsal line of the ground colour is visible on the back of the thorax ; the spiracles black.
Emsworth : May I3ih, 1874.
DESCRIPTIONS OF TWO NEW SPECIES OF HETEEOCEROUS LEPI- UOPTEEA IN THE COLLECTION OF THE BRITISH MUSEUM.
BY A. a. BUTLEB, F.L.S. EUCTANE EgAENSIS, U. sp.
Wings above black-brown, basal area and boay l)rij,'lit metallic l)liio-grccn ; primaries ■with a broad, oblique, transverse, caruiine band, clouded with j;ale rosy scales ; apex narrowly wliite ; secondaries with costa grey ; abroad, irregular, oblique, sub-apical, carmine fasciole ; fringe varied by three white spots ; wings below as above ; body with leg.s and palpi brown above, white below. Abdomen with broad, ventral, carmine band ; segments white-edged. Expanse of wings, 2" 2'".
Ega (Bates). Two specimens. B. M.
Allied to E. tcmjiorafa, AVIK., from T:)]iaj<is, but with l)roader car- mine band in primaries, not vnricd willi white; and a broader expanse of metallic-green at the base of the wings.
CaLL10J)K8 Itt'BROPirTA, 11. Rp.
Allied to C. orhlijcra of Guenee, but considerably larger; the costa darker, the discal macular white band obsolete ; the postniediau obli(iuo transverse band continued lo apex of primaries, the ocellus niucli larger, the yellow iris not confined
73 [September,
by tlie black line, excepting towards costa; the central oblique black streak and the bliick border of the postmcdian white band strongly wared ; the broad dark brown discal band boldly arched so as to form two semicircular patches across each wing, edged externally and irroratcd internally with dead gold ; submarginal line widened, irregular, but not zigzag ; a patch of rosy hair-scales on abdominal margin ; fringe of secondaries sordid except at apex. Abdomen above rosy, with sub-triangular basal brown patch and lateral segmental blackish spots ; wings below smoky-brown ; a large, rounded, discoecllidar spot on each wing, bounded externally by a white nebulous patch, interrupted (indistinctly on primaries, but distinctly on secondaries) by the brown nervures, and an angulated transverse band ; two waved discal bars ; fringe cream-colour ; edge of outer margin undulated ; primaries with a broad, interno- basal, rosy-flushed, cream-coloured patch ; secondaries with a broad, pyriform, rosy patch on the abdominal margin ; body below grey-brown. Expanse 2" 11'".
Moreton Bay (Strange). B. M.
AVe have one example of this species in the colleetion, but Mr. Walker informs me that there is a second in that of Mr. Chapman, of Glasgow : Mr. Walker originally described it briefly as the female of C. orhigera, but after seeing this second example, he was satisfied that it was a different species. I have not the slightest doubt that the two insects are abundantly distinct. British Museum : June, 1874.
DESCRIPTIONS OF THREE NEW SPECIES OF EROTTLID^. BY GEORGE LEWIS.
1. Ctrtotrtplax Niponensis. Ovata, nigra, nitida. Capite thoraceqice paj'ce ininctatis, ehjtris punctnto-striatis, interstitiis evidenter sod parce punetatis. Scutello suhlcevi. Suhtus vix punctata. Palpis niqro-piceis, coxis antcriorihiis rufo-piceis. Long. corp. 2\ lin.
This insect is readily distinguished from its congeners by its nar- rower form, wholly black and shining colour, and longer and more slender legs.
Plab. : Hiogo, Japan. A single specimen from a fungus near Maiyasan Temple ; October, 1S71.
2. C. CONSOBRINA. C. hijntstulatce proximo ajjinis, at p)mtlo latior, antennis pedibicsque nigris, robust ioribiis, capite thoraceque paulo pro-
fundius punetatis ; cJi/trorum macidd sanguinca latiori a basi necnon sntiird late separata, margincm extcrnam solum affingenti.
Long. Corp. 2 — 2^ Jin.
This species is broader in llie head and thorax than the Fabrician tyi)e', Mild tlie elytni are not so ii;irrowed# before the apex. The an-
1874.] 79
tcnii.T) and legs arc stouter, and tlic red band leaves a broad black margin both at tlie suture and at the base of the elytra, and touches the margin only at the outer edge.
Ilab. : Irkutsk, South Siberia, and is apparently not rare.
3. Episcapiia Taishoexsis. ObJoiiga, nigra, hand iiuhescens, sparse sub-fortitcr punctata. Thorace suh-transverso vim torte marginato, hnsi simiato. Elytrorum macula anterior macules anteriori E. Fortunei vix simili, at posterior paulo minus undulata. Scutello in viedio punctis niris impresso. Antomis pedihusque rohustioribus, totis nigris.
Long. corp. 8 lin. ; lat. 3 lin.
This species is half as broad again as E. Fortunei, Crotch, -with proportionally thicker legs and antenniio ; and, while the red bands of the elytra closely accord in general outline, the pattern is less crenu- latc and defined. "
Ilab. : Chiosan and Tsu-sima ; islands in the Straits of Korea.
Norbiton : July, 187-1..
DESCRIPTIOXS OF TWO NEW GENERA AND SOME NEW SPECIES OF rSELAVlUDM.
BY D. SnARP, M.33.
Tetracis, nov. gen. Antcnnce W-articulatce, elongntcc, apicem versus leviter incrassatce, basi approximates. Palpi maxilhires sat elongali, articulo 2" medio abru])te curvato, parte apicali incrassata extus obtuse angulata, seta brei'i instructa; articulo 3" latitudine paulo longiore, extus apicem versus obtuse angulata, angulo setabrevi instructo ; articulo \P precedent e pauJo longiore, ap>ice extus oblique truncato intus p)eracuminato, extus medio srta brevissima instructo. Caput ante oculos drjlexum, sub oculos tubcr- culo ])arvo inslructum,pone oculos acute p>romincns, tuberculis frontalihus brei'ibus, connatis. Abdomen sat elongatum, marginatum, segmcntis dor- salibus quinque perspicuis, quorum duo basalia sat elongata, tria ultima jyaulo brevioria dejlexa ; segmentis ventralibus 5 perspicuis, tribus ultimis jjerbi'evibus. Pedes elongati, trochanteribus intermediis elongatis, coxis post ids distantibus, a frmorihns trochanteribus srparafis ; nnguiculis duobus j)arvis.
This genus must be placed between Tmrsipliorus and Cfrnistes. Tho structure of the maxillary palpi scarcely differs from that of Tmesipliorus carinatus, but the connate frontal tubercles distinguish it from Tmesipliorus. From Ctenistcs the structure of the maxillary
yQ [Septcnilxir,
pnlpi will rcndily separate it. It appear.s also to be allied to Crntro- ioma, but the angulated joints of tbe maxillary palpi sepai'ate it therefrom.
Tetracis complex, n. sp.
Rufescens, nifidus, j)rot]iorace suhlransvcrso ; eli/lris stria suturnli, striaque discoidnli inferp'o, hasi profunde impressis foveo latisque ; ah- doiiiine segmenfls 1 ef 2 snpra et infra hasi dense rjlanduloso pubescent ihus.
Long. Corp. ultra 2 mm.
AiitoiinsD much longer tliau head and tliorax, rather stout, the basal joint nearly as long as the two following joints together, a little stouter than the second joint ; second joint distinctly longer than the third, but scarcely thicker than it; joints four to eight not differing from one another ; joints nine and ten elongate, a little stouter than the preceding joints, each longer than broad ; eleventh joint elongate, distinctly stouter than the tenth joint, and as long as the ninth and tenth together. Head, with the vertex elevated but short, -with the impressions very obsolete. Thorax narrower than the elytra, but distinctly broader than the head and eyes, not so long as broad, at the base in the middle, with a dense patch of glandular pubescence, and at the hind angles with similar pubescence extending downwards as far as the coxfc. Elytra longer than the thorax, a little narrowed at the shoulders.
The specimen described is, no doubt, a male : it has the metasternum longitu- dinally sulcata. The antenna; of the female may very probably differ from the above description.
A single specimen of this highly interesting species was sent me from Tangicrs, by M. Olces, as being the Ctenistes integricoUis of Fairmaire. Fairmaire has, however, figured both the G. integricoJlis and its magnified palpus, and these figures leave no doubt that it is a very different insect from the one here described.
PsELAPnirs Saulcti, ii. sp.
Castaneus, minus nitidus ; palpis maxillarihus articulo ultimo valde elon(/ato, parte apicali ahrupte dilatata, hreviter ovaJi ; anfrnnis articulo nono precedente (infemina?) latioresed haudduplolongiore ; prothorace ehngato luiud iinpresso ; elytris tliorace paulo longiorihtis disco carinatis ; mcsosferni 7)iedisterno valde elongato medio liaud longitudinaliter carinato.
Long. Corp. vix 2 mm.
Dark reddit-h-chestnut, with the head and thorax narrow, and the after-body very broad ; on the upper-side the head, thorax, and elytra are sub-opaque, the liind body shining ; the maxillary palpi are very elongate, the dilated apical portion of their terminal joint is only about one-fourth of the length of the extremely slender basal portion ; the ninth joint of the antcnnse is not much longer than broad.
This highly interesting insect is apparently most nearly allied to the P. Diecli, Saulcv, and its genera* form resembles greatly the
1S74.] 81
figure of that spci-ii-M an given on [)late ii, f. 0 oi" Von Jleyden's Eeine; the after-body of P. Saulcyi is, however, notably broader tlian the figure represents that of Diechi. The single individnal I have seen of this species has the anterior trochanters very prominent, and acutely anguhited, and is particularly remarkable by tlie structure of its metasternum, the central portion of which is prominent and flattened, and forms as it were two oval plates which appear to be covered with a i)cculiar glandular matter. The basal segment of the hind body is not in the least impressed in the middle, and this has raised some little doubts in my mind as to the sex of this individual ; I feel, however, pretty certain that it is a male,
I captured my single specimen of this, which is, perhaps, the most remarkable species of the genus, at Reynosa, in the north of Spain, and I have named it witli much pleasure in honour of M. de Saulcy, who has described also some higlily remarkable forms of this genus from the same country.
Bythinus ocdipus, 11. sp.
liiifcscens ; vertice Icevignto ; eJytris parce fort iter pimctatis ; pro- tliorace lato, hasin versus valde angustato. Lone/. If mm.
Mas : antennarumarticuloprimo cylindrico Jeviterincrassato,seciindo suh-qtiadrato, precedente fere latiore, angulis internis suhrectis (i. e., an- teriore suboltuso, posteriore acuto), margine interna quant externa hand hreviare, acuminata : femarihtis omnibus valde inflatis ; tibiis anticisante apicem subita attenioatis, poster ioribus incrassatis intus medio dente magna, apice interna acuta.
Patria, llispania (E-eynosa).
This species is highly remarkable by the structure of its legs, and in this respect the Portuguese B. lusitnnicus, Saulcy, appears to be allied to it; but, if I correctly interpret do Saiilcy's description, the second joint of the antenna is differently shaped in that species. The species should be placed near B. clavicornis and B. crassicornis.
Bythinus Ckotchi, n. sp.
liufescens ; vertice Icevignto ; protliorace magna, basin versus valde a})gustato ; eh/tris pnrce minus distincte jiunctatis ; oculis (inaris) parvis.
Lang, cor p. \% mm.
Mas : antennarum articuJis duabus basalibus simplicibus, primo elongata ; frmaribus omnibus incrassatis ; tibiis anterioribus ante api- cem subito angustatis ; pasterioribus gracilibus elangatis.
Pat rid, Ilispanin (Keynosa).
y2 [SeiJtember,
A single specimen of tin's species was given to me hj my lamented friend Gr. R. Crotcli, who captured it at Eeynosa ; and I subsequently myself found a single individual in the same locality.
BrxniNus Manueli, n. sjo.
Siifescens, postlce plus miiiusve nigricans; frotliorace antice im- fundato ; elytris ohsolete punctatis. Long. corp. I-3 mm.
3fas : antennarum articulo primo incrassato, intus apice tuberculo minimo ; 2" magno, primo latiore, latitudine vix hreviore, onargine inferno convexo quam externa paulo longiore ; tibiis anterioribus intus ante apicem minus fortiter angustatis, pedibus posteriorihus gracilibiis.
B. nodicorni peraffinis ; maris antennarum articido 2" longiore, mar- gine interno elongato hand acuminato, facile distinguendus.
Pafria, Sabaudia.
Tliis Bythinus was captured during the month of May last at Albertville, Savoy, by Count de Manuel and myself, and I have great pleasure in naming it in honour of my hospitable and genial friend.
Batrisus sibiricus, n. sp.
Magnitudo et statura B . formicarii. Biifns, elytris exceptis, sub- opacus ; anfennce crassiiisculcB apice leviter clavatce ; capite punctato, vert ice sat elevafo, subtilissime carinato ; elgtris par ce, fortiter sed parum profunde punctatis ; ahdomine pubescentia depressa subtili sat dense vestito. Long. corp. 3 mm.
Mas: antennarum articulo ultimo intus medio tuberculo obsoleto ; femoribus intennediis arcuatis ; tibiis omnibus basi compressis, inter- mediis apice unco brevi sat valido armatis.
Fern, incog.
Antennee long and stout, joints 2 — 8 bead-liko. Head much elevated over the insertion of the antcnnso, the vertex rather strongly elevated, and with an extremely fine line along its middle, eyes in front moderately large, but truncate behind, and with the head projecting behind them as a fine acuminate tubercle ; when viewed from the front the appearance is exactly as if the eyes themselves were spined or angulated. Thorax similar to that of B.formicarius, but with the middle fovea indistinct, and the front parts more distinctly punctured. Elytra redder and more shining than the rest of the surface, sparingly but distinctly (though not deeply) punctured. First dorsal segment of the hind body very finely margined at the sides, without impressions at its base, but with two very short indistinct raised lines in the middle behind the elytra, and outside these with a longer, very fine, oblique line on each side.
I have seen but a single S2)ecimen of this fine species ; it comes from Eastern Siberia. Though clearly allied to B. formicarius, it is verj' distinct therefrom. In conncctioa with this insect it may bo
83
worlli while to mention, tliat tlie Hgnrc of B. funnicnriiis given by Aubc (I'sel. Mon., pi. ix, f. 1) is extremely deceptive; tlio antennae are those of a male individnal, while the legs arc not those of B.for- micfirius, either 3* or 5 , and are indeed so diffei"ent, that they must have been entirely supplied by the imagination of the artist, who, however, was Aube himself.
Trooastek, nov. gen.
Corpus elonqatum, suh-depressum. Antenna; hasi valde distnntes. C iput sub-iriangulare, nullo modo rostratum. Faljyi maxillares breves. Thorax cordatus. Coxis anferioribus elongatis longe exsertis. Pro- stermnn magnum. Abdomen marginatum, segmentis 5 dorsalihus per- sj)icuis sed quinto parvo transversa, fere condito, segmentis 4 primis sub-cequalibus ; segmentis ventralibus sex p)crspicuis. Pedes trochan- teribus brevibus, coxis post ids prominentihus, hasi contiguis ; tarsi unguicuh instructi.
This genus is allied to Euplectus, but differs therefrom by the peculiarly prominent anterior coxaD : its facies is rather that of Trichonyx. I have only been able to make a very imperfect examina- tion of the single individual I possess, but I have no doubt a complete knowledge of its characters will prove it to be a very distinct genus. Indeed, it possesses slender much exserted anterior coxjb in com- mon with the Xorth American Phexius insculjjfus, and the Australian Batrisus hamatus, King (not a member of the genus Batrisus) ; and I believe its true position will be found to be in the neighbourhood of those insects.
Trogaster aberra^s, n. sp.
Castaneus ; oculis minutis ; protliorace latcribus medio angulatis, diKco longitudinalitcr canaliculafo ; cigtris protliorace pauJo hngioribus, stria suturali intrgra. Long. corp. 2 mm.
Mas : abdomine segmentis ventralibus IJ ct 4 medio depressis ; seg- ment o 5° profunde emargijiato, medio brevissiino ; 0" magno, fovea maxima, circulari, nitida insigne.
Anteniifc shorter than head and thorax, Ist and 2nd joints longer and stouter than the following, the 1st about twice as long as the 2nd, joints 3 — 8 small and vcrj short, scarcely difToring from one another, 9th broader and longer than the 8th, sub-quadrate, 10th joint shorter but broader than Dth, strongly transTcrse, 11th joint large, stouter than the 10th, and longer than Ulli and 10th together. Head short and broad, the elevation on each side over the antenna abruptly defined in- wardly, so as to form a kind of deep impression or fovea, the vertex in the middle with an indistinct fovea ; the eyes are very small, and placed in the middle of tiie
g;^ [September,
sides at a disfanoc from the hind angles. Tlie thorax is elongate, longer than broad, though only a little narrower than the elytra, (he sides are much narrowed towards the front (so that the front part of the thorax forms a sort of short neck), and they project in the middle in the form of a prominent acute tubercle, behind which the thorax is abruptly nari'owed ; along the middle is a deep channel, and at each side behind the lateral angle is a large deep impression. The elytra are but little longer than the thorax, a little narrowed at the shoulders ; each has a deeply impressed sutural stria, and the humeral angle is prominent, and within this the surface is depressed, and the inner margin of the depression extends towards the extremity as a kind of plica. The first segment of the hind body is in the middle close behind the extremity of the elytra transversely impressed, and the impression is filled with fine hairs. The legs are moderately long, the tarsi rather more than half the length of the tibiae.
A single example of this very curious Pselaphid was sent me by that most successful collector the late E. Haymond, from Corsica, under the name of Trichonyx aherrans ; the species, however, does not appear (though this was five or six years ago) to have yet found a dcscriber.
Ecclcs, Thornhill, Dumfries : August 8th, 1874.
JVote on a curious race of Ilarpalus latus, L. — I am indebted to Mr. George Lewis for a ? example of a most interesting variety (or race) of the above-mentioned common insect, apparently hitherto unnoticed, and which is so conspicuously different from the type, that I propose to give it a name (metallescens), especially as some five or six of it were taken, all (as I am informed) exactly alike. These specimens were found during the past summer by a relative of Mr. Lewis's, at Folkestone. The individual in my possession is hard and mature : its legs are of a brighter yellow than usual ; the whole upper surface is of a silky greenish tone, the thorax being especially ^recM at the hinder angles ; the thorax itself seems scarcely so transverse as usual, being appreciably contracted behind, and having its posterior angles not nearly so rounded off as in ordinary examples ; the punctuation at its base is almost obsolete and confined to the fovere, and the fovea; themselves are much less conspicuous. — E. C. Eye, Tarkfield, Putney : Augtist, 1874.
Note on a variety of Liodes humeralis. — I am also indebted to Mr. Lewis for a specimen of the var. glohosa, Payk., of this common species, not hitherto recorded as British, though the other described var. (entirely rufo-castaneous, with lighter iiulications of the usual shoulder spot), clavipes, Hbst., is, accoi'ding to Erichson, represented by Leiodes armata, Steph. (which, teste Wat. C&t., is? Anisotomartigosa, in Steph. Coll.). In the var. glohosa, the disc of the thorax is more or less black, and the luiraeral spots are eo confluent as to invade the whole elytra except the apex, •which is dark ; there is also a trace of dark colour along the suture. The insect is quite hard and mature, but the " var." clavipes seems probably nothing but an immature individual. — Id. •
1874.] S5
Coccinella eating Lepido}iterot(s ova. — A male Coccinella h'qjunctata has been engaged, during the hist four days, in eating a bateh of about sixty eggs of a Lepidop- teron, laid ou the glass of an out-house window here : it finished the last of them a little before dusk yesterday aftornoou. — J. E. Fletcuer, Pitmaston Koad, Wor- cester : August 4th, 1874.
Re-occitrrence of Ilalonota grandcBvana at Hartlepool. — On the 26tli Juno I took a specimen of this Tortrix, and on the 6th of July I met with another, but I was by no means certain I had found the head quarters of the insect. This proved to be the case, for, on trying a fresh locality, a short distance from where I had taken the two first specimens, I had the good fortune, on the loth July, to meet with ten specimens, and the following niglit, aided by a friend, I captured forty-seven ! Many, however, were somewliat worn, and I could only regret I had not found out these head quarters a fortnight earlier. I took two or three splendidly marked females, which seem to be generally larger than the males.
1 am not at all surprised that the insect has so seldom been taken, for it does not fly before dusk, and then only a sort of jerking fliglit of a few yards very close to the ground. Afterwards, I discovered that I could take them more easily by looking over the leaves of the coltsfoot with a lantern, and by this means I got some very fine specimens sitting on the top of the leaves, generally on the smallest and most stunted plants, the more luxuriant plants being seldom pati-onized. — J. Gakdner, 8, Friar Terrace, Hartlepool : July llth, 1871.
Elachi-ita serricornis, t^T., at Witherslack. — I spent the 25th and 2Gth July at Witherslack, and, though the wcatiier was too hot for day work, by sweeping before the sun got too hot I obtained two Elachlsta serricornis on the 25t]i, and two more on the evening of the 26th. Rhynchosporella was plentiful, but I only saw these four specimens of serricornis. Amongst my other captures I may mention Hypenodes turfosalis, Cnephasia lepidana and icterana, Gelechia ericinclla, in plenty j single specimens of Coleophora pyrrhuUpennella and apicella, Catoptria expallidana, JSupoecilia sodaliana, &c. Amongst the sorrel at dusk were several Opostega sala- ciella, but it was not easy to see them when in a white net. I only took two Cnephasia Fenziana at rest ; they seem to be scarce this season. — J. U. Uodukixsou, 15, Spring Bank, Preston : August 3rd, 1874.
Note on Endopisa nigricana. — At page 198 of the 9tli vol. of this ^Sfagazine, I recorded the precocious appearance, witliin three weeks from their larval slage, of six moths of this species ; the bulk of tiie moths from the same lot of larvic came out at the normal time, — during June and beginning of July, 1873 — but the last individual remained twenty-two months in cocoon, and assumed the imago state on tlie Ist of June this year (1871). They were all kept together, and muler like con- ditions throughout. — J. E. Flktcheii, Pitmaston Koad, St. John's, Worcester: 2o(h July, 1871.
Occurrence of Crymodes exulis. — I have again sugared (for sixteen nights) in the same locality where I liave before obtained this species, near Loeli Laggan, Inverness- shire, but only captured a single male this season, wliich came to sugar near midnight on the 7th inst. Moths were extremely scarce, and the wcallier very bad. — NiC'iioLAij Cooke, CSorsr'y Iley, Liseard, near Uirkenhead. — 21a/ July, 1871.
SG ! September,
Natural Hislory of Larentia oUvata. — Several years ago I bred this species, but took scarcely any notes of it, and was, therefore, very glad to receive from Mrs. Wol- laston, at the end of last August, some eggs which she had obtained from a moth taken at Teignmouth.
The larva; hatched, but not all at once, during the second week in September, and were kept outdoors on a growing plant of Galium mollugo ; the winter being mild, they continued to feed slowly all the time, and seemed to be content with withered leaves, when green ones failed them ; by the last week in April they were fidl-fed, and most of them became puprc during the first week in May. Tlie larva of this species, like that of pectinitaria, is extremely sluggish, as miglit, indeed, be concluded from a glance at its form.
The egg of olivata is rather small for the moth, of nn oval form, plump; the shell glistening, with no raised reticulation, but yet covered with the little facets as it were, which should be enclosed by reticulation ; colour at first pale straw ; then a palish vermilion-red ; at last turning to a pale livid hue.
The young larva is pale vermilion-red, with blackish head, but this gay colour does not last long, soon giving way to the dingy appearance worn for the remainder of this stage, and the description of the full-grown larva will suffice for it altogether.
The full-grown larva is rather over five-eighths of an inch in length, very stumpy in figure, rugose and warty, with segmental divisions distinct, head not so wide as second, with lobes rounded, although narrow, the front and hind segments tapering very slightly.
The ground colour is a pale ochreous, mottled with deeper brown, and marked longitudinally with lines of darker brown ; the dorsal line begins blackish on the second, becomes dark brown after that and is continuous up to the fourth, then it becomes a series of dashes on the front part of each segment up to the tenth, thence again it becomes continuous ; on either side of the dorsal line come a sub-dorsal and lateral similar line, continuous to the end of the fourth, and fi'om the tenth to thir- teenth, but on the intermediate segments interrupted and turned aside by the warts ; in this manner the sub-dorsal line is pushed in towards the dorsal at the middle of each segment, giving somewhat the look of a curved X' only the limbs of the letter do not touch ; the lower or lateral dark line is also waved in its course by similar obstructions ; the usual dots are large tubei'cular warts of the ground colour, and furnished with stiff bristles, and, on segments six to nine, there are besides pairs of conspicuous, transverse, oval warts paler than the ground ; the spiracles are incon- spicuous, being small and blackish j tlie head brownish with dusk^- freckles, and set with bristles ; the belly more mottled than the back, and with traces of a central, and jxiir of lateral, dusky lines. In its usual position of rest, the larva keeps the head and thoracic segments all humped together.
The cocoon is very slight, formed on the surface of the soil,inuler a leaf or stem for covering, and with particles of earth, &c., drawn in ; the pupa is three-eighths of an inch long, the thorax swelling above the line of the back, the eyes somewhat projecting, the abdomen tapering off gi-adually, and ending in a small blunt spike furnished with two large and six small spines with curled tips, by which the pupa is attached to the silk of the cocoon ; the colour briglit reddish, the abdomen deeper reddish, the spike dark bruvvn. — Jl'UN IIellins, Exeter : June 2>id, 1S7-1-
1874.1 S7
Natural Illslortf of Aslhcna Blomeraria. — To IMr. W. II. OrigR, of Bristol, is clue tlie credit of discovering the larva and food of this species, which has baflled us so long.
In July last year Mr. Q^rigg took the moths in some immbcrs, and found them free to lay their eggs in chip boxes, and ho most kindly sent mc a good supply of them, together with information as to every kind of green thing that grew in their locality ; when, therefore, the larva? hatched they were supplied with leaves of all tlie trees and plants which liad been suggested, but they would touch none of them ; we then thought of lichens, and supplied them also, but with no better success ; all our young larvre died of starvation.
However, in September, Mr. Grrigg visited the locality again, and, after a good deal of hard work, succeeded in beating from some wych elms gi'owing there a large number of Geometers ; most of them proved to be Abraxas tdmala, but with them ■were several othei-s of a smaller species, which, from their likeness to the larva of Venusia camhrlcaria, gave us great hopes. They were, however, horribly ichncu- moned, nine out of every ten being thus infested ; but, luckily, some three or four sound ones were secured, and this summer i*emovcd all doubt by appearing in tlie imago state as A. Blomeraria.
Being now sure of the food, Mr. Grrigg again procured eggs this summer, and generously halved his supply with me ; but the young larva? in confinement arc so abominably restless aiul obstinate, that, although I had considerably more than a hundred eggs, I have been able to rear barely twenty-five larva;, and Mr. G^rigg not so many. No wonder we failed with them last season, when together with wych elm we gave them so many other sorts of food to choose from, for now, with nothing but the wych elm leaves in their bottle, I found they would not feed at all, but would continually crawl to the light, and entangle themselves together till they were starved : at last I shut them up with some twigs in a largo tin box, making tlie cover quite secure by stufling cotton wool all round, and left them to tlicmselves for some days, and in this way I managed to rear the number above mentioned.
1'his year (1871) the eggs were laid on July 9th and 11th, tlie larva; hatched on tlie 18tli and following days, and now as I write (August 1-lth) all ai'o in their last skin, and several nearly full fed.
Last year (1873) I had the eggs during the last week of July and the first week of August, the larva; hatcliing from July 30th onwards, but living only a day or two : the larva;, nearly full fed, were captured during the last week in September, and the survivors among them changed to pupa; in a few days.
From tlie manner in which the moth deposits her eggs in any crevice in the chip box, I imagine that in freedom slie would arrange them in small batches along the ribs on the under-side of the leaves, whicli in the wych clra arc very prominent, and I noticed that the larvae prefer to remain on the undei'-side of the leaves throughout llieir existence, carefully spinning a thread wherever they move ; in feeding, at first they eat ouly the uiuler-surfaec of the leaf, but by the time they arc a quarter of an inch long, they eat holes quite through the leaves, generally avoiding the ribs, at last reducing them almost to skeletons.
The egg is small, somewhat brick-shaped, being long and flattened, but one end is squurer and thicker tlian the other; the shell glistening, and covered with a
88 ^September,
diamond pattern of sitnk lines, eacli diamond having a central sunken dot ;* the eolour at first pale, afterwards rich deep yellow, with the edges still deeper, and a red tinge near the bigger end ; at last becoming again quite pale, but with a dark spot.
The young larva escapes by eating out one end of the egg ; in colour it is whitish, with a purplish tinge in the front segments from the internal organs showing through ; as it grows it becomes quite shining white ; after the first moult it is glassy looking and translucent, with an internal green stripe through the body, probably caused by the presence of food ; when about three-eighlhs of an inch long it is uioi'o opaque, with the back whitish-green, a broad dark green sub-dorsal stripe, the head greenish- white, all the rest pale green ; the bristles conspicuous.
Soon after attaining the length of three-eighths of an inch, it passes its last moult, and, after that, grows rapidly ; the markings are at first paler in the lighter portions, and darker in the dark portions, than they become afterwards.
The fuU-fed larva is about three-quarters of an inch long, slender, but cylindrical and plump, of almost uniform size throughout, except that the head is narrower tlian the second segment, and the last three segments taper off both in width and in thickness ; the skin soft and rather glossy, wrinkled at the divisions, puckered along the sides, and set with a few hairs.
The general colour on the back and sides is pale greenish-yellow, the belly slightly greener ; the crown of each lobe of the head is marked with a streak of crimson- brown ; tlie collar is shining ; on segments 2—4 is a long oval dorsal patch of pinkish or crimson-brown, widest on 3, and ending in a blunt point at the division between 4 and 5 ; through this runs a central thread of yellow, bordered with au edging of brown, darker than the patch, which has also a darker line running along just inside its outer cuiTed edged ; about the middle of 6, commences a pair of lateral blotches, which run through 7 and 8, of either rose-pink or crimson-brown, having a streak of darker brown just in the place of the sub-dorsal line ; these blotches have waved edges, which nearly meet at the segmental divisions both above and below ; through 5 — 11 inclusive, there is no dorsal line whatever, but on 12 and beginning of 13, in the place of the dorsal line, is a broad stripe of rose-pmk, bearing at each end a dark spot of crimson-brown : the spiracles roundish, but very hard to bo seen, being greenish-yellow on the ground colour, and brown on the coloured blotches ; so too with the usual warts, on tlie ground they are scarcely to be seen, but on the blotches they become prominent, shining, and dark brown.
The above description applies to all the larva; I have reared this season, for there is scarcely any variation amongst them, but among the captured larva; last year there was a great deal; this was shown not only in the depth of colour of the blotdies, but also in their size, and by their abseuce ; one variety was greenish-yellow all over with no niiu-kings whatever; another had the blotcli on 2,3, and 1, and a dot on 12, and nothing else; another liad a dark dori^al spot in the middle of 5 ; another had a similar spot on G, almost coinieeting the lateral blotches ; the example had a dark spot on the side of the anal logs.
The larva, last year, retired into the earth furnished thom for pujiation, ami there made weak, rouiulish, oval cocoons, nearly half an inch long, and formed of peaty fibres and eartli, spun together with a slight lining of silk.
•" The egg of A.tandklata haa alsu this charjictur of beuiij embossed as it wei-c by a pattern of suuk iinca. ■
"1 89
Tlio pnpa is nbout ono-tliird of sm inch long, plump in clmraotrv, (ho ahdnmon tapering rather suddenly to a point, which ends in two si ight ly diverging curled-topped bristles, these last being attached to the threads that lino the cocoon ; its colour is a light reddish-brown ; the tumid margins of the wing-covers yellowish-ochreous ; the centres of the wings, and the antenna-cases, olive ; the tip of the abdomen Mack.— Id. : August Uik, 1874-.
Capture of Noctua sohrina. — I have had the good fortune to discover a ncw^ locality for Noctua sobrina, in a heathy pLicc some distance south of Loch Tlannoch, Perthshire. Last spring I accidcntly found an injured larva of what was (from the description given m Mr. Stainton's Manual) so suggestive of 2V. sobrina, that I determined to woi'k for the perfect insect when due. I was rewarded by taking several specimens, and also by obtaining eggs which I duly sent to Messrs. Buckler and Hellins for future notes. I find this species exceedingly local in its habitat. — Joay T. Carringtok, Poole Eoad, Egremont, Birkenhead: August \st, 1871j.
Capture of Paclmobia alpina. — I had the pleasure of capturing a specimen of this fine and rare species this summer in Perthshire. It was taken in the Breadal- banc division (as divided by Dr. White in his Fauna Ferthensis) , close to the summit of a mountain of upwards of 3000 feet in height.
It may interest some of your readers to know that this was the only result of fourteen whole nights and several days spent at that height. I sugared each night, but it produced nothing but an occasional Noctua fesiiva. The nights spent at this altitude were alternate, the other evenings were occupied by sugaring in the valley where I stayed ; these latter sugarings produced many moths, so that the paucity of moths at sugar on the mountains could not be the result of a bad season. Considering the result, and the extreme discomfort of mountain tops at night, for I was many times enveloped in thick clouds for hours together, I do not think it worth while to work again for this cloud-loving species.
I believe there are only four previous records of this species being taken in Great Britain, viz. : the two named in the "Manual; " a third, by Mr. Eedlo, on Schichallion, in 1870 ; and one bred from a pupa found while hunting for Coleoptera in Braemar in 1873 (vide ante, x, 88), by Mr. Allin. These may be called acci- dental captures, so I feel a little more pleasure in having gone for and obtained this species. — In.
On the larva of Noctua subrosea. — From M. Bei'g's description (ti-anslated in your last number, p. G7) of the larva of the Russian Noctua considered to be a variety of subrosea by Dr. Staudinger, I am inclined to think it will prove to be a distinct species.
I sent living larvrc of our subrosea to my friend M. Guence, who thus describes them: — " The caterpillar is very pretty : it is of a greyish -flesh colour, striated and " marbled with brown, with the vascular and sub-dorsal lines somewhat large, clearly " defined, continuous, straight, and of a citron-yellow speckled with brown ; the latter " sjjeckled on the lower part with reddish-yellow. The stigmatal line is very large, " of a pale sulphur-yellow, and surmounts a dt>ep brown ventral band ; stigmata "liVMWn • )ii':iil .•ciiu'iilnrniis willi two iliirlc iiiMi'ks."
t)0 [September,
The larva of onv species very much resembles the paler varieties of the larva of Jladena pisi.
The specimens of the Russian moth ■which were shown to mc by Baron von Nolcken, -were very much smaller than our subrosea, and the superior -wings were strongly tinged with blue.
Dr. Staudinger and M. Berg refer to Herrich-Schaffer's figures as representing the Russian form, but this is certainly an error ; they represent our subrosea, and I have little doubt that they were taken from specimens which originally belonged to mc, as I gave a number of specimens to the late M. Becker in 1848, which were captui'cd by Mr. English at Yaxley ; and a year or two afterwards I sent a scries of bred specimens to Ilerrieh-SchafEer. I do not think the Russian form was discovered when his figures were published. — Henry Doubleday, Epping : August 13tk, 1874.
Note on Lobesia reliquana. — My friend, Mr. C. Gr. Barrett, has followed Professor Zcllcr and Dr. Wocke in the error into which they have fallen, in referring the reliqnana of Hiibncr to the Bolrana of the Vienna catalogue.
Hiibner figured our insect under tte name of permixtana {Tort. No. 75), sup- posing it to be the species given under this name in the Vienna catalogue. He appears to have afterwards changed his opinion, as he figured another Tortrix under the name oi permixtana {Tort. No. 187), and in his catalogue gave our species the name of reliquana. The two species stand thus : —
"No. 3637. — Ilemimene permixtana, Schiff., Verz., Tort., D. 19. Hiibn.,
Tort., 187." " No. 3674. — Asthenia reliquana.
„ permixtana, Hiibn., Tort., 75." It is clear from the above extract that Hiibner applied the name of reliquana to our insect, and not to Botrana, W.V. — Id.
Domestic Entomology : a word in season. — Cockroaches are doubtless necessary in the scheme of creation of this best of all possible worlds, and even from a merely human point of view, may in some sort be deemed usefid. They are said to be a certain remedy for the plague of bed-bugs, it having been averred by an eye-witness that the latter are the prey of the former, but most simple-minded persons would deem the remedy to be almost as bad as the pest. Apart from this consideration, seeing that BlattcB will and do exist in houses which are devoid of Acanthice, and that they ai'c then an unmitigated nuisance that rapidly increases, it is, I think, beyond controversy, desirable that it should be speedily diminished. The most tender- hearted maiden who, over her shrimps or lobsters without any feeling for their sufferings, inveighs against the cruelty of fly and beetle-butchers, will scarcely give the least sign of sympathy for slaughtered cockroaches, nor, however sensational the recital, could the reporter say
" The wandering fair one turned to chide." And if the proposition of " Death to the Blattte " wei-e put to the vote at a meeting of metropolitan householders (in the parliamentary sense, for it may be disputed if in any other persons can be householders who share their tenements with such vagabonds), can it be doubted that the chairman would announce " The Ayes have it."
Without ventui'ing to offer any opiuion on the merits of the various means
1874.] 01
advertised for getting rid of cockroaches — the efficacy of one of which, however, is i-endered doubtful by tlie announcement of its powers being headed by a fancy portrait of a stag-beetle as one of the noxious creatures — it may be of service to make known the following personal experience with a method that is not " Registered," nor " Patented," nor " Brevete' s.g.d.g."
Several years since I read an extract from the Boston " Journal of C'liemistry " that cockroaches had an intense aversion to borax, and any place they frequented woidd be cleared of them if tlie powder were placed in their haunts. Circum- stances favoured an experiment, and in tlie course of two or three weeks I found that the prescription, used daily, had rendered my kitchen free from the hordes of these hexapod banditti that had long made their nocturnal raids there, their carcases every morning showing the havoc that had been made in their ranks. It has been
said that
" We murder to dissect,"
but I did not make any post-mortem examination of the "Subjects" to ascertain how the borax had effected them ; — I was satisfied they were dead. I may avoid the felonious imputation altogether by saying, as indeed has been said already, that in such a case " Killing is no murder."
Eecently, I saw an extract from the American "Cultivator" to the following effect : —
"No insect which crawls can live under the application of hot alum-water. It will destroy red and black ants, cockroaches, spiders, bugs, and all the other crawling pests which infest our houses. Take two pounds of alum and put it in three or four quarts of boiling water ; let it stand on the fire until the alum is melted, then apply it, while nearly boiling hot, with a brush to every joint and crevice in your closets, bedsteads, pantry-shelves, and the like. Cochroachcs will flee the paint which has been washed in cool alum-water. Powdered alum will keep bugs at a respectable distance, and travellers should always carry a bundle of it in their hand-bags to scatter over and under their pillows in hotels, &c. While staying at an hotel once, with a party, most of whom complained sadly of the nightly attacks of these dis- gusting insects, I was able to keep them entirely at bay by its use, and I distributed the contents of my bundle among the party, to their great relief."
It should be pleasing to housekeepers, as well as to travellers, to know of the above cheap remedy for the house pests mentioned. But is it I'cal ? Possibly some liousekcepers may favour the world with the result of their experiments with the alum-cure in the matter of " cockroaches, ants, spiders, and all other crawling pests " — except bugs. These latter are things that no one will confess to having in his dwelling; — hotel and lodging-house keepers are virtuously iaidignant at the bare suspicion of such creatures, and will declare that the vennin, if found on their premises, must have been brought by tlie lodgers themselves. Once, indeed, I am told by a friend, that at an hotel in Paris, the cliamhri^re, on being shown a full- grown Acanthia on the bed in tlio month of April, merely said, with gi'cat naivete, " I never saw one so early;" but this was an exceptional admission. Yet some traveller, I hope, who has hitherto found, in more senses than one,
" Ilib wannest welcome at an inn," will have no couipunelion in telling us if he has tried llic effect of ahim-po\Ml<'r
JJ2 lbui)tenilKi ,
])lacud 111 liis bed (possibly not used only " on and under his pillow ") in getting hiiu a safe deliverance from " tlie terror that walketh by night ;" — and we will excuse the reticence of the housfkeepers.— J. W. Douglas, Lee : Jtdy 27<A, 1874.
Capture of Ai^lielocheirus cBstivalis in Norfolk. — During the last winter I showed to luy friend Dr. J. A. Power, a water-bug, which had been giyen to me, mounted whole, as an object for the microscope ; he pronounced it to be Aphelo- cheirus cestivalis, a gi'cat rarity. I learnt where it was taken, and have secured a few. The species is not scarce among weeds in a running stream at Castessey, about four miles from Norwich. In the middle of June, it was mostly in the larval form, six to one of the perfect insect ; at the cud of the month, the perfect insect was much more abundant ; and on the 20th inst., there was not more than one larval form in eight taken. I did not seen any swimming about, nor did I get one winged specimen. I Lave also heard of a habitat in another stream at Earlham. — Jajies Laundy Bkown, The Grove, Chapelficld, Norwich : July Zrd, 1874.
Note on some Odonata (Dragon-jlies) from the Sandicich Islands, Sfc. — Mr. a. F. Matthew, F.L.S., late of H. M. S. " Kepulse," now in England, collected a considerable number of Dragon-flies at various ports on the west coast of North and South America ; including some from the Sandwich Islands, in the month of June, 1873. From the latter locality ai'e four species : —
1. Anax Junius, Drury, a common species in North America, and already recorded from the Sandwich and other Polynesian Islands.
2. The nearly cosmopolitan Pantala flavescens, F.
3. A Tramea that I cannot separate from T. lacerata, Ilagen ; originally recorded from Texas, Maryland, and Mexico. I have it from Texas, and from the North of California, collected there by Lord Walsingham (a very northern locality).
4. A small Agrionide not yet determined.
Of A. Junius, P.fiavescens, and T. lacerata, Mr. Mathew says they are abundant in the Islands, and " prey on the produce of what the Hawaiians call tlie ' army " worm.' It is a species of Hadena, and occurs in countless multitudes. These large " Dragon-flies used (or seemed) to follow me m numbers as I walked through the " gi-ass, darting off to the right or left of me in full chase when I disturbed a moth. " They were numerous on board our ship, although we were anchored more than two " mUes from the shore.
At Payta, Peru, Mr. Mathew caught several of Fantala hymencea, Ilageu, a species that I tliink had not been recorded from south of Mexico. He says of it : — " This fine species occurred along the sea-coast. I cannot imagine where the larva) " fed, as there was no fresh water within many miles of Payta, and rain is almost " unknown there. Just above high-water mark in some places, there were largo '' patches of a species of ice-plant fMesemhryanthemum, sp. 1), and these Dragon- " flies were always to be found hawking above them." The species is no doubt migratory like its congener P. ^are^ccHS, and those that Mr. Mathew saw were en voyage.
From Vancouver's Island Mr. Mathew brought our familiar Lihellula qitadri- macidata, which occurs over all the boreal parts of the Northern Iloniisphere, and is well known to be migratory. — K. McLa(.iila«. Liwisliam : Ith July, lS7i.
|ic licit*.
Ox THE Tkansformations of tue Common House Fly, with notes on allied forms; by A. S. Packaud, Jun.,M.D. (from the Proceedings of the Boston Society of Natural Ilistory, Vol. xvi, pp. 13G — 150, 1 plate). Of all in<cc't-pests of the human race, thei-e is — strange though it be — scarcely one of which the earlier stages are loss popularly known than those of the House Fly. To entomologists who have specially attended to the subject, it was certain that the eggs were laid in dung, and that the metamorphoses took place therein. Dr. Packard, in this interesting memoir, traces out all its history from eggs laid in fresh horse-droppings ; and summarises it as follows : — " The eggs are about one hundred and twenty in number, and in twenty- " four hom*3 the larva? are hatched. There are three stages of the larval state, and con- '■■ sequently two moidts. The first stage lasts about one day or twenty-four hours. " The second stage lasts about one day. The thii'd stage lasts three or four days. " The pupal state lasts from five to seven days. The period from the time of hatching " to the exclusion of the imago lasts from ten to fourteen days in the month of August." Just aa there are at least three species commonly confounded under the term " Blow Fly," — of which the true Musca (or CalliphoraJ vomitoria is possibly the least abundant — so there are several species ordinarily known as the " House Fly," and Dr. Packard takes particular care to point out in* what way that ferocious little animal (Stomoxys calcitransj, which takes a mean advantage of humanity by driving its proboscis through our stockings when taking our ease in slippers, differs from the comparatively harmless domestic Dipteron. He might have gone further, and instructed his uninitiated readers that the merry creatures (HomalumyiactinictdariaJ which perform an aerial ballet over one's head when lying half-asleep and half-awake in the early morning, arc not " House Flies." Although the parts relating to embryology, &c., will probably not much interest the non-entomological public. Dr. Packard will do well to secure for his memoir more readers that it will have iu the pages of the proceedings of a scientific society.
Entomological Society of London : Jul?/ Gth, 1S7-4. — Sir S. S. Saunders, C.M.G., President, iu the Chair.
Mr. S. Stevens exliibited examples of Dianthaecia alhimacula, bred at Portsea by Mr. Moncreaff ; also Cathormiocerus maritimus, Rye, and Tychhis h<xmatoce}>halus taken by the same gentleman ; and Agrolera nemuralix from Abbot's Wood, Sussex, taken by himself.
Mr. Bond exhibited minute parasites from a bat, probably identical with Argas jiipistrellce ; also Acari found on a fly, and Acarus-galls on leaves of damson : the galls being very numerous, but the fruit-bearing powers of the ti-ee not being thereby alTeeted. (Tlieso galls are probably the saiue ns those found on sloe ; and, according to Kaltenbacli, are the work of J'olvul/J'ix pniiii).
Mr. W. C. Boyd exliibited two examples of Thccht ruhi from Sussex, having a pale spot iu each fore-wing. He remarked that he liad only seen two individuals of tlic species in the lacidity iu which they were captuied, and both were of tills ■ I'uliar variety.
f)4, [Sc'iitembcr,
Mr. Woniiald exhibited a eollectiou of Uuttcrflies from Japan, captured by Mr. H. Prycr.
Mr. W. Colo exhibited leaves of ash affected by small dipterous larva; (probably CecidomyiaJ , which caused the two edges of the leaflet to turn upwards and meet above, thus assuming a pod-like form. They were from West Wickham.
Mr. Champion exhibited Amara alpina, and other rare British Coleoptera, recently captured by him at Aviemore, Inverness-shire.
Mr. Grut exhibited larva;, pupa;, and imago of a dipterous insect found in his house, attacking an old piece of Turkey carpet. The larva; were long, slender, and somewhat like a wire-worm. The pupse were enclosed in a kind of cocoon formed of particles of the wool of the carpet. Prof. Westwood thought the fly was probably a species of Scenopinus.
Mr. F. Smith exhibited sand-cocoons found in a salt marsh near Weymouth. They were the work of a dipterous larva, and were found lying on the top of wet salt sand. Prof. Westwood said they were probably formed by Maclieritim mari- timtim, one of the DolichopodidcB.
Mr. Butler exhibited a very rare book from the library of Mr. Janson, viz., Lee's " Coloured specimens to illustrate the Natural History of Butterflies," published in London, in 1806 ; the issue having been limited to a very limited number of copies. He gave a detailed account of the synonymy, &c., of the species figured.
Prof. Westwood exhibited examples of Haltica (BatophilaJ cerata, which he had found to be very injurious to young leaves of garden-roses ; also portions of a ripe walnut attacked by a larva. Mr. McLachlan said that this was probably that of the acorn-moth (Carpocapsa splendana) , and Mr. Moore said that he had bred that Bpecies from a walnut. lie further exhibited and remarked on the yucca-moth (Prontiba yuccasella, Riley) bred by him from cocoons sent by Mr. Riley. The ex- istence of this insect appeared to be absolutely necessary for the fertilisation of the flowers of the Yucca, the pollen being collected on the peculiarly formed palpi, and transferred to the stigmatic surface as the insect passed from flower to flower, as detailed by Mr. Riley in several of his Reports on the Insects of Missouri. Prof. Westwood concluded by exhibiting a number of dark coloiircd honey-bees, found near Dublin, attacking a straw hive of ordinary bees. They were remarkably free from pubescence, and looking ragged and worn. He considered they were only a degenerated form of the hive-bee, and were probably identical with what Iluber calls " black bees," the existence of whicli had been scarcely noticed since his time.
The Rev. H. S. Gorham read descriptions of new species of Endomychidee, supplementary to his " Endomycici Rccitati." Also remarks on the genus Ilelola, belonging to the NitidtilidcE, with description of a new species from Japan.
Dr. Sharp communicated a siipplementary paper on new species of various groups of Coleoptera from Japan.
Prof. Westwood read descriptions of new species of Cetoniidce, principally from the collection of Mr. Higgins, and accompanied by drawings.
Part iii of the Transactions for 1874 was on the table.
The President announced that the Library of the Society would, at present, remain at Bedford Row, pending the result of nogociations in progress for its removal to more suitable quarter:?. ^
i?:4.] 95
NOTES ON CICINDELTDM AND CARABIBM, AND DESCRIPTIONS OF NEW SPECIES (No. 18).
BY H. W. BATES, F.L.S., iic.
Sub-family Siagokin^.
COSCTXIA PICTTTLA, Sp. n.
C.fascigercc (Cliaucl.) qffinis. Parva, setosa, ni/iflff,mffrfr,pnncfnta; el i/tris fascia hasali maculaque siitui'ali-apicaU sanguineis ; p)"^2^is,Iah)'o jycdibiisque fusco-fulvis ; antennis castaneis. Long. 2 lin.
Of the flattened form of C. Semelederi, hut smaller, and tlie elytra distinctly punctate-striato, with a row of punctures down each inter- stice. In colour and size it approaches C. fuscigera, hut the red colouring of the elytra consists of a broadish l)asal belt and an oval spot over the suture near the apex ; a red sutural border sometimes connects the two, and the apical spot is also liable to be enlarged so as to extend to the margins. The head and thorax are covered with large separate punctures, and the dorsal line of the latter is very strongly impressed.
Mesopotamia ; many examples.
Apotomus xanthotelus, sp. n.
A. rufo hrevior et convexior ; hand setosus ; atro-fuscus, suh-nifidus ;
antennarum articulis duohus basal ibiis, pedibusque rirfo-castaneis, illarum
articulis quatuor apicalibusjlavis; palpis fidvo-testaceis.
Long. 1\ lin.
Dull blackish-brown ; legs clear chestnut-red ; antenna) with the two basal joints reddish and the four apical ones yellow. The elytra are more convex than in A. rufus, and rather more strongly punctatc- stx'iated, with narrower interstices. The body appears destitute of erect hairs.
Celebes (Wallace) ; two examples, in one of which the thorax is pitchy-red.
Sub-family ScARiTiNiE. Carenum porphtreum, sp. n.
G. smaragdulo (Wcstw.) affinc. Oblongo-ovatum, convc.vum ; ni- grum, nitidum, ihorace latissimo, late viyidi-limbato ; elgtris hete vio- laceis, viridi-marginatis, ovatis, IcBvibus, postice unijjunctatis ; tibiis anticis tridentatis. Long. 10 lin.
Of the same form as C. smaragdidum. Anterior tibia? with a well- develo])e I third tootli, surmounted by two other denticulations. The
QQ [September, 1874.
head ia broad ; the frontal furrows short, commencing on a level with the middle of the eyes, and slightly diverging posterioi-ly ; the eyes less prominent than in G. Odeivahnii. The antenna? are rather slender, the apical joints gradually tapering. The thorax is very broad, as in G. Odeioahnii ; the hind margin is not lobed, and distinctly tri sinuate ; it has a very broad light green border, the inner edges of which are violet. The elytra are elongate-oval, not narrowed to the base, nor depressed near the suture ; the humeral angles have an elevated tooth ; there is a row of four ocellated punctures on each side of the base, and one discoidal puncture behind, but no trace of sculpture on the surface, which is of a rich violet, shading into green hi some lights towards the base and apex ; the margins, including the broad epipleur£©, being golden-green. The sternal segments and sides of the abdomen are also green. The labial palpi have their terminal joint only slightly dilated.
West Australia.
Caeenitm breviforme, sp. n.
JBreviter ohlongo-ovatnm, nifjrum ; thorace ct cljjfris lateviridi-lim- hatis, his disco violaceis, striato-punetatis, postlce unijnmctatis ; capito maqno, sulcis frontalihus brevibus parallclis ; tibiis anticis tridentatis.
Long. 7i lin.
The terminal joint of the antennte is short and ovate. The thorax is twice as broad as long ; lunate, with prominent anterior angles, and a very short and rather narrow lobe in the middle of the base. Tlie elytra are extremely short, ovate, convex ; depressed at the suture, and with rows of shallow but large punctures, besides the single large discoidal posterior puncture ; the borders are broadly emerald-green, and the disc violaceous near the suture and green borders. The under- side is black. The anterior tibia; have three distinct teeth and two denticulations.
West Australia.
CaREKTTM SUBPLANA.TTJM, Sp. U.
Gylindrico-oblongum, nigrum, nitidiim ; elytris oblongo-ovatis, cou- vexis, dorso planatis, postice bipunctatis, nigro-violaceis ; thorace pauJo transverso ; capite post oculos transvo'sim impresso, sulcis frontalibits 2inulo obliquis ; labro antice recto ; tibiis anticis bidentatis.
Long. 71 lin.
A s])ecics approaching in some of its characters JEufoma and Carenidium, but having the moderately dilated labial palpi and narrowed
■ 'otober, 1874.] 97
apical antenna! joint of Carenum. In form it most nearly resembles C. BoneUii, but it is ratlier narrower, and tbe elytra are more rounded at tlie slioulders and distinctly flattened for a considerable breadth on each side of the sutui'e, the limits of the flattening being distinctly marked. The head is similar in form, but presents several striking points of difference ; the transverse depression behind the eyes is deep and continuous right across ; the eyes are much less prominent ; the lobes of the clypcus in front of the eyes are not distinctly grooved, and lastly, the labrum is straight, or even somewhat emarginate, in front, with a row of distinct large punctures. The maxillary palpi have their terminal joint nearly linear. The elytra have no trace of sculpture beyond the posterior fovea and a cluster of ocellated punc- tures at the base, lying in irregular depressions, with the usual marginal punctures. The margins are thickened near the apex. Nicol Bay ; West Australia.
Caeexum pla>'ipexxe, sp. n.
Elongatum, parallelum, depressum, elytrorum dorso late fortiter planato ; nigrum, nitidum, thoracis marginibus angustis elytrisque omnino smaragdinis ; cajnte htto, rodundato ; suJcis frontal ihus longis, fori iter curvatis ; oculis hand prominulis ; thorace paulo transverso,hasi lohato ; elytris humeris elevato-dentatis, postice bipunctatis ; tihiis anticis li- dcntatis. Long. 10 lin.
The head resembles much that of Carenidium, to which genus the species would belong, were it not that the labrum is not emarginatcd, but trisinuate, and approaching that of the typical Garena. The labial palpi, too, are not so strongly dilated as in Garenidiiwi; but the max- illarios arc more dilated than in Carenum. The species, therefore, is a connecting liuk between the two genera. The body is elongate, parallel-sided and depressed, with the elytra flattened for a broad space on each side of the suture ; the colour is olive-black, m ith the margins of the thorax and the whole elytra clear green, the colour being duller along the centre of the latter. The antenna) are slender, with the apical joint tapering, and the sides of the joints only densely pubescent. The frontal furrows are curved, and so strongly impressed that the lateral intervals resemble orbits, and the eyes are not promi- nent. The thorax is a little broader than long, parallel-sided until near the base, where it is sinuate-angustate to the distinct basal lobe. The elytra are retuse at the base, with rather advanced and dentate shoulders, the lateral margins are thickened as in Eutoma ; the surface
98 [ October,
is smooth, and tliere is a row of three or four ocellatcil punctures at the base. The metasternal episterna are very sliort. The ventral segments have each two punctures. Nieol Bay ; West Australia.
Neocarenum ctlindeipeicne, sp. n.
N. elo7igato angustior ; nigrum, nitidum ; ehjfris quam thorncc multo angiistiorihus, omnino transversim rugosuJis, punciis ocellatis sub- marginalihus seriatim ordinatis. Long. 11 lin.
Apparently closely allied to N. riigosulum, "W. McLeay, but differs in the frontal furrows being remarkably deep, AT. rugtisoJum having " capite leviter bisulcato ;" and also in the absence of all trace of elytral strise. The head is similar to that of N. elongatmii, the frontal furrows being deep, strongly flexuous, widely divergent behind, and connected at their ends (on a level with the posterior margin of the eyes) by a transverse furrow. The eyes are enclosed behind by a thin orbit, which does not project beyond them. The surface of the head is smooth and shining. The thorax does not differ from that of N. elongatum. The elytra are much narrower than the thorax, nearly cylindrical, very slightly narrowed to the base, with the humeral angles scarcely advanced, and the suture not depressed ; the whole surface is covered with short and very irregular shallow wrinkles, coarser near the sides, where they obscure the sub-marginal row of large ocellated punctures. The anterior tibise are bidentate, the middle tibiae uni- spinose ; the suture between the second and third ventral segments quite obliterated in the middle. The antennae are glabrous, with the fifth to eleventh joints coarsely punctured and pubescent on their edges ; the terminal joint tapers to the tip.
AVest Australia.
K^EOCAEEXrM RETL'SUM, S/J. 11.
JElongatum, latior, minus convexum, nigruvt, suhfili.fsime coriaccum, vix nitidum ; elytris hasi valde retusis, humeris sub-faleatis, punctis sub- marginalibus null is ; fibiis anticis extiis tridentatis, subtus valdc dcntatis, intermediis bispinosis. Long. 11. ^ lin.
The head in this remarkable species resembles that of A\ elonga- tum, with the exceptions that the lateral lobes project much more, niid are more angular in front of the eyes, and that the posterior orbits project beyond the eyes ; the frontal furrows are similar, but the transverse furrow behind continues laterally to the hind margin of the eye. The antenna? are still more glabrous, and the joints 5 — 11 have strong punctulated grooves on their edges. The thorax is rather shorter and broader, with rectangular a,jiterior angles, and acither an-
1874.^ 99
tei'ior nor basal fovcfp. Tlic elytra are as wide as tlie thorax, very obtusely rounded and abruptly declivous at the tip, depressed on tlie back and broadly rctuse-concave at tbe base, with projecting shoulders, the tooth of which is somew^hat curved laterally as well as upwards ; they are uniformly and minute coriaceous, without the usual lai'ge punctures. The anterior tibias have three teeth, and the usual denticu- lations on the carina beneath are enlarged into two broad conspicuous teeth. The middle tibiae have two long and strong spines. The mcta- thoracic episterna are very remarkably small and rounded. The maxillary palpi are very slightly dilated (labials wanting). Nicol Bay.
EuTOiri. CAViPExxE, sp. n.
Gmcile, angushim, nitidum; cnpite valde exserto, ovato, oculis miJlo moclo 2'>'>'omimdis ; tliornce nigro, late viridi-marginato ; elytris dorso valde depressis, Icsvissimis, inqjioictatis, violaceis, marginihus (Jbasi et apice dilatatis) viridihus. Long. 7 Zm.
The head is very different from that of ^. tinctilatum and splen- didum ; the eyes being flat or even sunk, so that the form is ovate, broadest before the eyes and gradually narrowed behind to the thorax ; the space between the exterior teeth of the epistoma is narrow and deeply concave ; the frontal furrows are narrow^ flexuous, scarcely divergent, and do not reach the level of the hind margin of the eyes ; the surface is glossy, smooth and black, with the sides of the neck violet or blue. The thorax is rather smaller and narrower than the head ; black, with broad brilliant green border. The elytra are of the width of the thorax, and about as long as head and thorax taken to- gether ; they have a small triangular emargiuation at the base of the suture, and a broad concave depression down the middle ; there is no trace of stria) or punctures ; the usual ocellated points on each side of the base are one, or (sometimes) two, very large, and the marginal punctures are also large and widely separated : the colour of the whole disc is rich violet, with brilliant green basal, apical and lateral* borders, but sometimes the green borders arc muclx wider. Tlie under-surface and legs are shining black.
AVest Australia.
Caeexidium sapphirixum, sp. n.
G. gagatino hrcvior, magis ova turn ; convcxiim, nitidum, Icete cceraleo- viulaceum, marginihus viridihus ; suhtus viridiceneum ; capite alutaceo ; thorace transverso, rotundato, bast lohato ; elgfris ovatis, suhtilissime j>uiictuIato-striatis. Lonq. 12 tin.
100 [October,
Head very similar to tliat of C. gagatinum, frontal sulci very deep, widely divergent behind and extending mucli beyond the eyes, tlie latter prominent but encased bebind in wide orbits ; labrum deeply emarginated in a curve. Thorax much shorter than in G. gagatinum, and more regularly rounded ; the middle of the base forms a distinct, short, truncated lobe. The elytra are ovate, with shoulders entirely efFaced, convex on their surface, with lateral margins not at all thickened. The anterior tibife have two long teeth ; the middle tibise one short spine.
Nicol Bay ; West Australia.
Teeatidium, g. n.
Corpus maxime elongatum. Talj^i maxillares et lahiales apice di- latissimi ; caput rotundatum ; sulci frontales vix imp)ressi, hrevissimi, postice convergentes. Tihice anticcs unidentatce ; intermedice extus sim- plices. Elytra hasi utrinque plicata, marginihus lateralihus incrassatis ; disco impunctato. Metasternv/ni hrevissimum.
The extraordinary insect for which this new genus is necessary, agrees with Monocentrum only in the absence of the usual tooth or teeth of the anterior tibiae above the apical one ; but the excessive dilatation of the terminal joint of the maxillary (as well as of the labial) palpi and the very short faint frontal groves, form very distinct and peculiar characters. The head is broader than the thorax, rounded and obtuse in front ; the four teeth of the clypeus are of equal size ; the labrum bisinuate, prominent in the middle. The antennae are naked, with a few large punctures on the margins of the joints. The eyes are large and prominent, encased behind in broad orbits. The thorax is much longer than broad, oblong, but narrowed behind and a little sinuate-angustate near the base. The elytra are cylindrical, but appear broadened behind, owing to the excessive thickness and width of the marginal rims, which, at the sutural apex, are overlapped by a lobular projection of each elytron ; they are slightly narrowed to the base, which has on each side a transverse wheal, posterior to which is a depression containing eight or nine ocellated punctures, but the de- clivous base itself has no such punctures ; the shoulders have a very pi'ojccting tooth, and the base at the suture is concave.
TERATIDirM MACROS, Sp. II.
Nigrum, suh-nitidum. Lonq. 13| Jin.
To the above detailed generic deeoription it mny l)o ndded that
1S74.] lOl
the marginal row of ocellatcd punctures is not on the extreme margin as in Carenum, nor moved towards tbe diac as in Neocaremim, but lies just above the marginal furrow. Tbo ventral segments Lave no punc- tures, and the suture between tlae second and third is complete.
Nicol Bay.
Obs. — All the above new species of the Carenum group were ob- tained from the reserved collection of M. Du Boulay, in which they were nearly all represented by single specimens. From the same col- lection I obtained other species, allied to the common G. marginatum and C. Bonellii, but it is almost impossible to ascertain whether some of the numerous descriptions published by Mr. W. MacLeay and Count Castelnau do not apply to them.
Bartholomew Eond, Kentish Town, N.W. : Juli/, 1874.
ON A NEW FAMILY OF EUEOPEAN AQUATIC COLEOPTERA. BY D. SHABP, M.B.
Some few weeks ago I received a letter from Dr. Lcconte, of Philadelphia, in which he enclosed two specimens of a minute Coleop- terous insect. These two specimens had been captured by the late Mr. Gr. E. Crotch in Southern California, and Dr. Leconte specially directed my attention to them as being of great interest, inasmuch as he considered them to be representatives of a new family of Clavicorn Coleoptera. When the specimens reached me, they had unfortunately entirely lost their heads and thoraces ; nevertheless, the insect inter- ested me even more than Dr. Leconte had anticipated ; for I felt sure, from the fragments that had reached me, that not only was it the representative of a new family of Coleoptera, but that that family was an inhabitant of Europe as well as of North America. I accordingly wrote to Dr. Leconte, informing him of the accident that had occurred to his specimens, and of my suspicion that an allied insect was a native of Europe, and, on receipt of my letter, he was so kind as to forward me two other specimens of his Uijdroscapha nataiis, as well as a proof slij) of his description lliercof. I lliiuk it well to preface my obser- vations on this insect by giving verbatim Dr. Leconto's description of it.
" HYDKOSCAPnA, n. fj. {Hydroscaphidcc) , Lcconte.
" Head moderately large, eyes lateral, coarsely {:jranulatcd, somewhat transverse ; antenna; scai-cely longer than the head, inserted inider the edge of the front, with Bcvon distinct joiuts ; Ist stouter, 2ud and 3rd each as long as the first, but narrower,
102 [October,
4th to Gth together shorter than 2ncl and 3rd iniited, gradually wider, 7th about as long as the 2nd and 3rd united, elongate oral, scarcely wider than the 6th, with au indistinct transverse suture near the base, and another very near the tip, which is sub-acute.
"Labrum transverse, rounded in front concealing the mandibles. Maxillfe large at the base (lobes not examined), maxillary palpi less than half as long as the antennae, Ist and 4th joints long, 2nd and 3rd vmited equal to either of the others, not dilated ; mentum trapezoidal, rather large, broader than long, wider in front ; ligula rather large, eniarginate, palpi short, rather stout, 2nd and 3rd joints broader and shorter than the 1st.
" Presternum very short, hardly visible, front coxse transversely conical, conti- guous, trochanters large, cavities narrowly closed behind ; middle coxro separated;; small, mesosternxim protuberant ; metasternum large, side-pieces narrower and pointed behind, hind coxae widely separated, laminate, the plate curved in arc of circle behind, and half as long as the Ist ventral.
" Abdomen conical, with six free segments, 1st large, longer than the four fol- lowing united, which are equal in length, but rapidly narrower ; Gth equal to the four preceding united, rather longer than wide, concave and emarginate behind, with two anal filaments equal in length to the segment itself.
" Legs short, front tibise somewhat thickened at tip ; tarsi slender, rather shorter than tibiae, apparently 4-jointed, Ist and 2nd joints short, 3rd equal to them united, 4th equal to the others imited, claws rather long and slender.
" Body small, scaphiform, rounded in front, nan-owed behind, convex, elongate, and shining. Head rather large ; prothorax nawower in front, with dcflexed angles, base truncate, not margined. Scutellum small. Elytra without striae, slightly punctulate, broadly truncate at tip. Abdomen projecting somewhat behind the elytra, with three segments visible, conical, not margined at the sides.
" H. NATANS. — Oval, narrower behind, convex, black or brown, shining ; head and prothorax nearly smooth, elytra sparsely and finely punctulate ; an- tenna; and legs testaceous. Length, less than '5 mm., = "02 inch.*
" Found abundantly by Mr. Crotch at Los Angeles in the river. Mr. Crotch informs me that this very singular insect resembles in appearance some of the species oi Limnelius. It greatly differs from that genus, as from all other Hydrophilidce , by the laminate and widely separate hind coxae, and by the peculiar abdomen. It seems to me another of the synthetic types gi'adually becoming known to us among the smaller and more obscure fonns, connecting several different families of the Clavicorn scries ; in this instance, the Si/drophilidce, Scaphidiidce, and perhaps the Trichoptert/gidce. In the accepted aiTaugement of Coleoptera, it must bo considered as indicating a new family." — Lcconte.
I have made a tolerably careful examination of the specimens of tlie above insect sent to me by its able dcscriber. So far as I can follow bis description, I am enabled to confirm it, with tbe exception of one or two points. I bavo convinced myself fully that the antennje of the above described JET. nutans arc eight-jointed, and the tarsi only three-jointed. Considering this latter point of importance, I have
* This i.s, of course, a misprint ; the spccimciis sent by Dr. Lcconte are about half a line in leugth, = 04 inch.— n. S.
1874.] 103
separated the legs, aud examined them both in iluid and Canada balsam. 1 would therefore propose to supplement Lecoute's description with the following remarks :
Antennoo 8-joiiited, 1st joint much stouter and distinctly longer than the following one, 2nd joint slender at the base, slightly longer than the 3rd, joints 3 — 7 differing very little from one another, each just a little shorter and scarcely broader than the predecessor, the sutures separating the joints broad (or, in other words, the base of each joint accurately adapted to the extremity of the preceding one, so that the outline of the antenuie is scarcely at all notched), the suture between the 7th and 8th joints probably not admitting of motion, 8th joint elongate, rather longer than the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th joints together.
Mesosternuni widely separating the middle coxte, and similar in form to the same part in Megasternum holeto'phagum.
Front and middle tibise armed externally with stout spines.
Tarsi 3-jointed, 1st joint rather shorter than 2nd, 3rd fully as long as 1st and 2nd together (this is drawn from the middle and hind tarsi ; the front tarsi arc much shorter than the others).
Hind-body elongate and pointed, with the segments very retractile.
So much for the American insect.
Directly I looked at the specimens sent by Dr. Leconto, I saw they were closely allied to a minute species I captured some years ago in Spain, and I have accordingly compared the Spanish with the C'aliforniau examples, as well as with Dr. Lecontc's description, and I find the two insects to be congeneric, and moi'cover, to be two closely allied species of the same genus. The following short characters will enable the European Hydroscapha to be identified.
Htdroscapha Ckotciii, s/?. n. — Pitchy-testaceous, shining,
sub-depressed, legs and antennae yellowish ; head and thorax almost
smooth, elytra very obscurely punctured, but the punctuation at
their apical part distinct though very fine.
Length, less than half a line.
This insect is closely allied to II. nutans, Lee, but is smaller, narrower, and very much more depressed.
It was captured by the late Mr. G. 11. Crotch aud myself in the pools of \\ ater by the side of the Manzanares in the suburbs of Madrid. During life, the hind-body is distended, but, except for this fact, the inscet bears a singular resemblance to a minute species of Limnehius, in company with which it is found — the Limncbius being abundant, tlic Hydroscapha scarce. The Limnehius was sent by mo to M. Pan- delle some time ago, and was pronounced by him to be the Limnehius cvanescens of Kieseuwetter. Kieseuwetter'a description (Berl. Ent. Zeit., 1805, p. ;375) of L. evanescens consists of only nine words, and they are not applicable to the Limnehius in (lucstion, though it is pos-
104 lOctoljcr.
siblc they might be intended to apply to the HydroscapTia. These facts suggest, therefore, the possibility that Sydroscapha Crotchi may have been hurriedly described as a Limnchius. Von Heyden (Berl, Ent. Zeit. 1870, Beiheft, p. 71) has supplemented Kiesenwetter's de- scription of L. evanescens by a longer one ; but it is still uncertain to me whether it is drawn from the Hydroscapha or a species of Limne- hius. There is another sjDecies stated to be allied to Limnehius evan- escens, viz., Limnehius gyrinoides, Aube (Grenier, Cat. Mat., p. 127), from the South of France and Asia Minor, and it appears to me pro- bable that the words in the description " extremite du corps depassant I'abdomen (sic) et termines par deux petites raides en dessous," {sic) might likely enough, notwithstanding their absurdity, have been drawn from a Sydroscapha. Under these circumstances it is, at any rate, probable that the genus in the old world has a pretty wide distri- bution, and it is therefore premature to remark on the geographical distribution of the two species composing it.
I hope the Madrid entomologists will be able to give us informa- tion as to the habits of the Sydroscapha Crotchi, and particularly to inform us to what extent it is really aquatic in its habits.
As regards the affinities of the family, I shall not attempt to re- mark more than that I do not consider the points in which it approaches the SydrophiJidce to be of great importance, and tiiat it does not show any tendency to possess those characters which are most dis- tinctive of and peculiar to the family Sydrophilidce. On the other hand, I am inclined to think that its affinities with the Trichopterygidce may be more important than Dr. Leconte has expressed : for the wings of Sydroscapha appear to me to show a decided approach to the pecu- liar structure of those organs in the Trichopterygidce. I have forwarded a pair of Sydroscapha Crotchi and one specimen of S. natans to the Eev. A. Matthews, in hopes that his skill as a dissector of minute Coleoptera will enable him to give us a full description of the trophi ; and I trust he will also inform us what his ideas are as to the affinities of the family with the Trichopterygidce.
Thoriiliill, Dumfries :
September, 1874.
DESCEIPTIONS OF NEW SPECIES OP LYC^NIDJE FEOM SOUTH
AMERICA.
- BY w. c. nEwrrsoN, f.l.s.
I am indebted for the insects described below to the generosity of Mr. Gcrvase Mathcw, of the Eoyal Navy, who collected them during a cruise of H. M. S. " Kepulse " in the pacific.
1874.) 105
Thecla Sedecia.
Upper-side : ^ , autcrior wing grey-browu, with a large dark brown discal spot ; the space between it and the inner margin white. Pos- terior wing white, with two tails ; the lobe rufous ; two spots at the base of the tails and the outer margin black.
Under-side : white, with the basal half of both wings grey, bounded outwardly by a band of rufous-brown. Anterior wing with two sub- marginal series of pale brown spots. Posterior wing with one sub-marginal series of similar spots ; the lobe black, the caudal spots as above.
Exp. 1^ inch. Hab. Mexico.
This and the following species, though very distinct, have a general resemblance to T. Daraba.
Thecla Chonida.
Upper-side : ^, grey-brown. Anterior wing with a large dark brown discal spot. Posterior wing with one tail; the anal half white, the lobe rufous ; two black caudal spots, and the outer margin black.
Under-side : cinereous. Both wings crossed beyond the middle by a linear band of white, bordered inwardly by orange, and by a sub- marginal series of white spots. Posterior Aving with the lobe and one caudal spot bordered above with orange.
Exp. 1^ inch. Hab. Mexico.
Thecla CrnniANA.
Upper-side : ^ , dull lilac-blue, the fringe rufous. Anterior wing witli a small rufous discal spot. Posterior wing prolonged at the anal angle with one minute tail.
Under-side : rufous-brown, clouded with dark brown beyond the middle of the posterior wing. Anterior wing with a band in the cell, a band at the end of the cell bordered outwardly with white, and a spot near the apex all red-brown. Posterior wing crossed o]di(|uely by three equidistant bands of the same colour.
Exp. l./i, inch. Hab. Peru.
Nearly allied to T. Falegon.
Thecla Ceitola.
Upper-side : c? , ultramarine-blue. Anterior wing with a large 1)lack discal spot. Posterior wing with two tails.
IQQ [October,
Under-side : cinereous, undulated with brown to beyond tbe middle, bounded on the posterior wing by a series of pale orange spots, fol- low ed by a broad band of paler colour.
Exp. Vo inch. Hab. Mexico.
Very unlike any other species.
Thecla Mathewi,
Upper-side : ^ , anterior wing dark brown, with the inner margin cerulean-blue. Postei'ior wing with two tails, cerulean-blue, w-ith the costal margin broadly brow^n.
Under-side : grey-brown, tinted with orange on the anterior wing. Both wings with a linear sjjot at the end of the cell ; both crossed beyond the middle by a scarlet band bordered outwardly with white ; the W of the posterior wing distinct ; both w'ings with a sub-marginal brown band broken into spots, bordered with white on the posterior wing. Posterior wing with the lobe and caudal spot black, bordered above with scarlet.
Exp. 1 inch. Ilab. Mexico.
I have named this species after its captor.
Thecla Cvphaha.
Upper-side : ^ , anterior wing dark brown with a rufous space at the anal angle. Posterior wing with two tails, rufous-orange, with the base and outer margin brown.
Under-side : ferruginous to beyond the middle, grey beyond it ; both W'ings crossed by an orange band, bordered outwardly with white, both Avith a sub-margiual linear band of dai'k browui ; the lobe and caudal spot black, bordered above with orange, below with white.
Exp. 1 inch. Hab. Panama.
Nearest to T. Hugon.
TUECLA QUADEIMACULATA.
Ujyper-side : ^ , dark brow'n. Both wings with a large orange spot beyond the middle.
Underside : cinereous. Both wings crossed by a band of dark brown spots, short, and near the apex of the anterior wing ; central, and very irregular on the posterior wing ; both -nnngs with a sub- margiual series of dark brown spots. Anterior wing with the orange spot as above. Posterior wing w ith an indistinct yellow spot near the outer margin.
Exp. : c?, 1*5 ; ? , 1t% inch. llab. Chili.
1874.. 107
LyciENA Lyenessa.
Upper-side : $, ceruleau-bluc, wdtli the outer margin black, the fringe alternately black and white.
Underside : pale grey. Anterior wing orange, crossed beyond the middle by a band of five black spots, the costal and outer margins grey. Posterior wing marked by a large triangular brown spot with its apex towards the apex of the wing ; two black spots near the base of the costal margin, and two or three near the anal angle.
Exp. ih inch. Hab. Chili.
Oatlands, Weybridge :
September, 187'li.
NOTES ON BEITISH TENTHREDINIDJE, WITH DESCRIPTION OF A
NEW SPECIES OF NEMATUS.
BY V. CAMERON, Jum.
Nematus alnivoeus (Ilai'tig). I have long possessed a Nematus that I never could identify, and considered it to be undescribed. On sending a type to Dr. Van Vol- lenhoven for his opinion thereon, he informed me that this is actually the case : it being, however, the species mentioned by Hartig (Stett. Zeits., i, p. 27) under the name of Nemaius ainivorus. As apparently no proper account of it has ever been published, I have drawn up the following description of the $ , the only sex known to me.
Antennre a little shorter than the body, black ; the third joint slightly longer than the fourth, the remaining joints becoming gradually shorter. Head entirely black, shining, and minutely punctured ; the mandibles reddish. The thorax and abdomen are entirely shining black ; the tegula; greyish-white ; the sheath of the saw hairy. Wings scarcely hyaline, having a faint smoky hue in the centre ; the ncrvures fuscous ; the costa and stigma fuscous with a testaceous tinge. The first sub-marginal nervuro is either absent or very faint ; the second recm-rent nervurc is received a little in front of the second sub-marginal one ; and the second sub-marginal cell has a minute black dot at its lower end. The feet are reddish, with the apical joints of the four anterior, and almost the whole of the posterior tarsi, as well as the apices of the posterior tibia;, and the calcaria, black. The spurs are bifid.
Long. 2i lines.
It has a considerable resemblance to Hcmichroa hiridircnfris, Fall., but it wants the white line on the pronotum, the tibia) and trochanters are not whitish, and the wings are clearer, while the difference in the neu- ratiou of the wings at once distinguishes them. Ilerr Brischke has, in his "Abbildungcn und Beschrcibungcn der Blattwespen-Larven," p. 12, doubtfully adopted the name of ainivorus for H. luridiventris.
N. alnicorus seems to be common in .Scotland, appearing during May and June, in the vicinity of willows. Here it occurs at Cadder Wilderness and Fossil Marsh, and 1 have likewise captured it in Htratli Glass and Kinlail.
108 [October,
CffiNONETJiiA Dahlbomi, Thoms.
This season I have captured, in Cadder Wilderness, both sexes of Coenoneura Dahlbomi, and, as Herr Thomson does not mention the <^, it may be useful to point out its distinctive characters. The antennae are fuscous or fuscous-black, with the two basal joints white ; the thorax is bright testaceous above with two broad black bands on each side of the cenchri, and encircling them ; the sides are black, in- termixed with brown, and across the breast there is a black band. The abdomen is coloured like the thorax, with the exception that the colour is paler, and the dorsal sui'face has a varying number of broad black transverse bands, which, in some examples, are nearly joined to- gether. The wings have the nervurcs much paler than in the other sex ; those at the base of the wings, as well as the costa and stigma, ax'e testaceous. In none of my specimens can I observe a trace of the first sub-marginal nervure.
The ? also varies in colouration, some examples being quite black, whilst others have the thoracic sutures, and the abdomen above and beneath, more or less reddish. All that I have seen have the antennae quite black ; but Thomson mentions that the basal joints are often pale. One of my specimens is only half the usual size. Altogether, it seems to be a very variable insect, and this variability evidently extends to its time of appearing, for it is met with during June, July, and August.
Tasokus glabbatus, Fallen.
How and where the eggs are deposited by the female saw-fly I have not been able to discover, although, from the fact of having found larvae that could not have been more than a day or two out of the egg, feeding close to the mid-rib on the under-side of the leaves of the food-plant, Polygonum listorta, I suspect that they are laid there. The usual habit of the larva ia to remain on the under-side of the leaf, with its body curled up in a ring, having the anal segments slightly elevated. In this position it eats either circular holes in tbe centre of the leaf, or feeds along its edges. Two broods occur in the year ; the first during June and July, the second from August to the beginning of October, and this last generation appears to be the larger. In my breeding pots, the larvae cither passed into the pupa state exposed in the soil, or more usually bored into the cork of the bottle in which they were confined. In a state of nature it is their habit to bore into the stems of plants : they never, I believe, spin cocoons. ^.
1874. 109
The larva lias the upper part of the head brownish-black, divitled at the top by a paler stripe (but Bome want this pale baud, whilst others have the back portion also pale) ; the lower part is whitish- gx'cen, with a somewhat semi-circular fuscous or pale brown mark in the centre of the face ; the mouth is deep brown ; the mandibles darker. The black eyes are situated in the pale portion. The feet are glassy-white ; the thoracic feet have the claws and the joints next to these pale brown. Each of the body segments (except the fifth) is provided with a pair of feet — twenty-two in all. The upper part of the body to the spiracles is dark drab-green, assuming a brighter tint when the creature is filled with food ; the remainder is white. The body is of the ordinary Tenthredo type ; the skin closely wrinkled. The usual length of the larva is about nine lines.
The pupa is bright glassy-green, with the wings, antenna?, and feet white.
In addition to describing fjlahratiis (under the name of Allantus agilis, Kl.), Stephens gives another species of Taxonus — T. rujipes, Ziegler — which Mr. Smith also, in his Nomenclature of British Ilymenoptera, adopts as a distinct species ; but, from the description, I should say that it is merely glahratus without the bronzy tint, for otherwise there seems to be no difference between the two.
136, West Graham Street, Glasgow : Wth September, 1874.
British oalc-gaUs. — In the Entomologists' Annual for 1872, Mr. Albert Miiller gave twenty-two species of CynipidcB as depcnclcnt upon the oak in Britain, all of whicli I have found in this neighbourhood, with the exception of Biorhiza aptera, Triffonaspis meffaj)tera, and liryophanta longiventris. Two of these species, viz. : B. aptera and D. longiveutris, I have no doubt occur here, but I have at pi-esent failed to find them ; as to ^. aptera, I have had but little chance, not having met with any uprooted trees ; A. radicis, the other root-gall of the oak, I have found rather commonly at the roots of hedge-stubs.
Since the publication of Mr. Miiller's paper, four other species of oak Cynipidce have been added to the British fauna, viz. : Andricus qtiadrilineatus, Hart., A. amenti, Gir., and Spathogaster vesicatrix, Schl., by Mr. Traill (E. M. M., x, 39 and 85) ; and Aphilothrix solitaria, Fonsc. (= C.ferruginea, Hart.), by Mr. Cameron (E. M. M., X, 85) ; of these I have found A. quadrilineatus hero abundantly this spring.
I now add descriptions of four ofher species found here, one of wiiich — A. globuli — has been recorded as British by myself in the Entomologist (vii, 24).
Drt/ocosmus cerrijyJiilus, Gir. — I found a cluster of old fallen galls of this species at the root of an oak — Q. pedunculata — here on the 22nd of June Inst. Dr. Mayr says : " this rare gall is only found on Q. cerris," and he, like myself, liad only seen
110 [October,
old galls, but it is well described by Giraud in liis paper on galls (Ycrh. Zool. Bot. Q-esell., ix, 354) : his descriptiou is too long to bo translated. I hope to find fresh galls and breed the insect, but have failed to find any more traces of it at present.
Dr. Griraud erected the new genus Dri/ocosmus for this insect, on the shape of the scutellum in the imago, which he only obtained by cutting them out of the galls, only breeding Synergi and ChalcididcB in the natural way.
Aphilothrix glohuli, Kart. (N. E., yii, 24). — This is one of the bud-galls of the oak of which, I believe, wc have several species in Britain. It is green ; and, being found in the late autiunn and winter, is easily seen in the terminal shoots contrasting with the brown twigs and bud scales. Bald, almost round, terminating at the apex in a small point, seated rather deeply in the bud, but falling to the ground when mature. The gall-fly appears in February according to Hartig, but, although I found the galls commonly, and collected many specimens, I failed to breed the Aphilothrix ; probably the inner gall withered through being collected too early. I found the galls in the beginning and middle of December in the Hadleigh Woods near here.
Aphilothrix albojmnctata, Schl. — It was on the 3rd of July this year that I first noticed some rather large bud-galls on the one-year-old twigs of Q. peduneulata stubs ; tliese were the galls of A. albopunctata. They do not appear to occur on trees, as I have searched for them there repeatedly without success ; some of the galls were empty as early as that date, their inmates, most probably parasites, having emerged. The galls are mostly dark green in colour, but some two or three were of a bright cream colour, probably bleached, of a conical shape, with slightly raised striae from the apex to the base, and frosted with white spots in some specimens ; they occur on the twigs, and are only surrounded just at the base by the small bud scales, so that they can easily be seen when looked for where they occur. I found two double specimens, otherwise the galls arc monothalamous.
From fifteen galls I have bred thirty-two insects, all parasites, viz. : sixteen Si/nergiis facialis, Hart, (seven <J and nine ?), one Pteromalus sp.l six Pteromaliis sp. ? seven Uurt/toma squamea, and two Eiipehnus urozontis, Dim. I have three galls which I hope contain the gall-maker, as Schlechtendal gives November as the month in which it appears ; he also says the galls fall in May, but I fomid them on the twigs as late as the end of July. The parasites were named by Mr. Walker.
Aphilothrix callidoma, Hart. — When looking for more galls of the last species on the 27th of July, I found one gall of this, from which the imago emerged on the 3rd of August. I watched it cut its way through the side of the wall of the gall ; it was about two hours fi-om the time I first noticed it.
The gall is green, about as large as a barleycorn, spindle-shaped, and seated at the end of a rather long foot-stalk, pointed at the apex, and covered with a visible pubescence ; in the species before me the pedicle is four lines long, the gall (which is monothalamous) three Imcs ; the pedicle emanates from an aborted bud on a one- year-old twig. Giraud says the gall may be found throughout the summer and autumn. Mayr has only found it in the autumn, so I hope to obtain more specimens, but have not done so at present, although I liave searched for some hours on the same stubs on which I obtained this one gall.— E. A. Fitcit, Ealeigh, Essex: 2Uh August, 1874.
18-4.] Ul
A further contrihiition to the Fauna of Lundy Island. — At p. 131 of vol. ri of the Ent. Mo. Mag. will bo found a notice of 8 species added to the Coleopterous Fauna of this Island by myself during two days' excm-sious in August, 1870, the principal object of which was to collect Hymenoptera, so that all my captures of beetles were made on turuing up stones in search of ants' nests. On the 22nd of August last, having for three weeks searched in vain for Symenoptera at and in the neighbourhood of Ilfracombe, I took advantage of an excursion to Lundy, which gave me about four hours for collecting, and these I devoted entirely to searching for Coleoptera.
Mr. T. V. "Wollastou has published two lists of the Coleoptera of the Island in the Zoologist, the first in 1845, the second in 1817 ; and the addition of the 8 above- mentioned species to the aggregate number (153) contained in tliese, increases the list to 161. I have now to add 22 further species, giving a total of 183.
Mr. Wollaston's i-esearches were made during June and July, and my own in August, leaving nine months for further investigations, and the spring especially would, no doubt, pi'oduce many species not yet recorded in the lists.
In my remarks on the Hymenoptera of Limdy Island, published in the Ento- mologist's Annual of 1870, I observed that it was the only locality I ever collected at without finding the hive-bee, and I also suggested that the Island was so barren and bleak that probably it could not exist there ; since that time a cottager has imported hives, and the insect is now plentiful on the purple heath, and also on the flowers of the blackberry. I may also here record the discovci-y of two species of FormicidcB not enumerated in my former list, namely, Formica aliena and F. cunicula/'ia.
Sweeping over a stubble field, I was greatly surprised at the immense number of grasshoppers, all apparently Stenolothrus biyicftattis. Three species of Homoptera also occurred in some abundance ; these proved to bo P/yeltis lifasciatus, P. Uneatus and Fvacanthus interruptui, the latter being less numerous, but not uncommon. Only two butterflies attracted my notice, they being rather numerous, one was Polyom- mati's Alexis, the other Chfysophanns phlaeas ; but I also observed a small pale buff- coloured moth which darted out of the clumps of heath when I was beating for Coleoptera. Mr. Wollaston has only recorded two other lepidoptcrous insects, (Cynthia cardui and lladena \^pleheia'\ dentina). A Lepidopterist would, I have no doubt, have seen many other species ; he must not, however, expect any long list of rarities, the Island being for the most part scanty of vegetation, and its entire area being only three miles and a-half, by little more that half-a-mile at the widest part.
The following is a list of all the species of Coleoptera taken on this last occasion by me, — such of tliem (22 in number) as were first discovered by myself to be part of the Fauna of Limdy being distinguished by an asterisk. Eleven of these, marked t, are not recorded in Mr. Parfitt's catalogue of the Coleoptera of Devonshire (rtiough one of them, Ceuthorhynchus quadridens, is probably the insect from horse- radish, referred to therein as C. quercicolaj : — *Demetrias atricapillns, Dromius linearis, *Tachyporii.t brunneus, *Cercus rnjllabris, Corticaria yibbosa and *fll''ollas- loni, *fMeliffethes lugubris, *\ApioH radiolum, *feneinn, carduorum, *fmarchicuin, *humile, *ruJirostre, and *nigritarse, *\Tychius lineal ul us, *Miccotrogus picirostris, *\&ibynes primitus, Cceliodes didymus, f Ceuthorhynchus. assimilis, contractus, and viir. ? \pallipe.'!. Crotch (I liave conii)ared this insect witli typical contractus, and
112 " [October,
find (liat its oljtm are not so rugose, being flatter between the strife. I only took a single specimen, but have seen others ; mine has the rostrum yellow before tlie insertion of the antennae, with the tip black ; all the legs are reddish-yellow, with black tarsi), *fC. quadriclens, Cettthorhynchideus troglodytes, *Crepidodera ferruginea, *Phyllotreta atra, *Thyamis lurida,*fexoleta, and *melanocephala,*Cryptocephalus minutus, \l'sylliodes hiridipennis, Kutsch. (on ^^ild cabbage : hitherto known to science only from this locality), *Coce2»eWa W-piunctata, Scymnus limhatus. — FredK. Smith, 27, Richmond Crescent, Islington : September, 187'4.
Notes on beetles occurring in the Shetland Isles. — During a recent stay in Shet- land, I met with sevei-al very interesting varieties of well-known species. The most remarkable was what appears to be a race of Hydroporus gi'iseostriatus, smaller, flatter, and broader than the ordinary form, with the front of the thorax entirely pale. This insect occurred not uncommonly in one lake, from which it was difficult to obtain two specimens precisely identical. The markings of some few specimens were (with the exception noted above) identical with those of type griseostriatus, while in others the elytra were of a pale straw colour, with extremely faint indica- tions of a few darker lines. Between the two all gradations occurred. In another lake, not very many miles distant, at a greater elevation, and farther north, tho ordinary form of griseostriatus was in profusion, without any symptom of variation. No special reference to variation in this species is to be found in the ordinary European text-books, except the mention of the elytral lines being more or less widened ; but I observe that the late Mr. Or. R. Crotch in his " Revision of the Dytiseidoe of the United States " (Trans. Am. Ent. Soc, iv, p. 393) says " the varia- " tions in colour in this species have caused it to be described under various names ;" and his localities, Canada, Lake Superior, California, give a further extension to its range of distribution, already reaching to Lapland and Unalaska. As there are already four synonymical names to H. griseostriatus, I do not venture to propose a new one for this Shetland form, however well marked, more particularly as I have the opinion of M. A. Preudhomme de Borre, of Brussels (who is a high authority on ITydroporus, and has kindly examined my specimens), that it is not specifically distinct from griseostriatus. I also met with Hydroporus tristis and angustatus, both conspicuously larger than the ordinary form, — the former evidently more, the latter evidently less, strongly punctured than usual. My assignment of these to the species mentioned has also been confirmed by I\I. do Borre.
Calathus mollis occui'rcd of a unifornaly dark fuscous colour (almost the same shade as nubigena). A very peculiar form of Agabus guttatus was strikingly nar- rower and flatter than the type, with the elytra much duller, and A. maeulafus was in every stage up to almost entirely black. Arpedium brachypterwm was smaller than usual and quite black, while a form of Chrysomela staphylcea occurred of a very short rotundate outline, much duller than usual, and, in some specimens, with the thorax less closely punctured. Tlie occurrence on ground little, if at all, raised above the sea level, of such species as Nebria GyllenhaUi, Pteros- tichus orinomus, &c., is, I suppose, to be accounted for by the higli latitude of Shetland. I was somewhat surprised to find the Isle of Wight Trechus lapidostis here. Pelophila borealis occurred in some numbers ; and Chrysomela sanguinolenta was found under stones, unlike the southern C. distinguenda, which may generally be found on Antirrhinum. — Tnos. Blackbtjrx, Grreenhithe : September, 1874.
1874. 113
Note on capture of Papilio Antimachus, Sfc. — I received yesterday from Mr. Rogers, at Fernando Po, a collection of butterflies, interesting chiefly from the large number and remarkable varieties of Acrcea, which seemed to have its head quarters iu that district. Mr. Rogers has at the same time sent me some new species from the Gaboon, with the following interesting account of his capture of Papilio Anti- machus (the "magnus Apollo " of Lepidoptorists) : —
" I must now teU you about Antimachus. I took it on a small island on the " 14th of March. I saw it on the 13th flying round a high tree where I was not " able to reach it. I watched it all day in the burning sun until quite exhausted. " I could not sleep all night. Next morning I landed on the island early. It was " pouring with rain. I watched round the tree, but saw nothing of it till about two " o'clock, when the sun shone out brightly, and in a few minutes it made its appear- "ance again, but out of my reach. Suddenly the rain came down again, and Anti- " machus flew towards me, and I took it with the first stroke of my net. I felt so " excited that I hardly knew wliat I did, and when I had pinned it in the box I "almost screamed with delight."
Mr. Rogers has gent me a second collection of butterflies from Fernando Po, containing Papilio Merope and P. Hippocoon, taken by him in copulation, another illustration of the saying that " truth is stranger than fiction." I find it very diflieult (even with this evidence) to believe that a butterfly, which, when a resident in ^ladagascar, lias a female the image of itself, should, iu West Africa, have one witliout any resemblance to it at all.— W. C. Hewitson, Oatlands, Weybridge : \2th A.ugust, 1874.
Hermaphrodite Oonopteryx rhamni. — When collecting in east Sussex on the IGth instant, I caught a hermaphrodite specimen of &. rhamni.
The left wings are of the usual sulphur-yellow colour of the male insect, and the right wings are of the usual greenish-wiiite colour of the female.
The specimen is in fine condition, and had apparently only recently emerged from the pupa. — II. Goss, Brighton : 2()th July, 1874.
Natural History of Lyccena Adonis. — On 30th August, 1873, Mr. A. II. Jones most kindly sent me two living females of this species, which ho liad just captured at Folkestone. These I placed at once under gauze on a plant of Hippocrepis comosa, and, during the three or four days they remained alive, they laid about twenty eggs. The larvfE, I believe, hatched towards the end of September, but, as I kept them on the growing plant outdoors, I could not see them hatching : in October I found the leaflets of the vetch marked with little whitish dots ; these were caused by the larvra t\iunclling into the under-side, and eating out the inner substance for a small space, leaving tlie upper skin untouched, which then turned white.
I kept their cage in a garden frame without bottom heat, but in a warm sit nation, and thus sheltered them tlirough the winter, and on sunny days the larva; could bo seen enjoying the heat, stretched out — if that term may bo applied to sucli diminu- tive, dumpy creatures — along the midrib on the upper-side of a leaflet. Up to December they remained less that one-sixteenth of an inch in length, but in January, 1874, some were grown to nearly one-twelfth of an inch, and were not only marking the leaflets with larger blotches, but were also beginning to nibble their edges.
\ 14 [October,
About the middle of March I notiocd they liad increased somewliat in length, and considerably in stoutness, and that they were now eating the leaflets iu the usual way ; and by April 1st they were quite one-eighth of an inch long, and could eat a whole leaflet at a meal. Through this month they grew rapidly, the warm weather suiting them well, and they ate voraciously, till, by the 30th, several of the most advanced in growth had hidden themselves under the loose soil for pupation : after waiting eight or ton days, they changed, and finally the butterflies came out between June 2nd and 15tli.
Mr. H. Terry of St. Mary's Church, Torquay, informs me that he finds the first flight of Adonis on the wing by May 20th, and the second about the middle of August ; the two broods, therefore, taking respectively mne and three months out of the twelve to complete all their transformations.
The egg of Adonis resembles those of its congeners, being small, round and flattened in figure, the shell covered with raised reticulation, having prominent knobs at the angles ; the central portion of the upper surface looks sunk, being covered with finer reticulation with no knobs ; the colour is a light dull gi'cy, the reticulation and knobs white.
The larva escapes through an irregular and rather large hole in the upper surface of the egg, and the empty egg-shell looks whitish ; the young larva is pale whitish- green, soon becoming a full but didl green ; all the warts furnished with hairs, which produce a downy appearance. During the winter months the green is replaced by reddish-brown, and again, in the early spring, the larva becomes pale pm*plish-brown, with the dorsal Immps and the sub-spiracvilar ridge showing pale ochreous-brown ; after a moult, about the end of March, the dull greenish hue comes back, the jjalor marks becoming yellowish, and the hairs black.
The full-grown larva is about five-eighths of an inch long, and a'quartcr-of-an-inch wide, onisciform, with the head small and retractile beneath the second segment ; the segments deeply divided ; there is a double dorsal row of eight Immps on seg- ments three to ten inclusive, enclosing a slightly hollow space, which is broadest on three, and thence tapers gradually to ten ; the side spreads out to a rounded ridge running round the body, and hiding the legs from view when tlie larva is at rest ; in colour, the head is very dark brown, the body is deep, full green, covered with tiny black specks bearing little black bristles, which are longest on the dorsal liumps and sub-spiracular ridge ; on the top of each of the eight pairs of dorsal humps is a deep bright yellow longitudinal dash somewhat wider behind than in front ; these dashes form in effect two yellow stripes interrupted by the deeply-sunk segmental divisions ; along the rounded edge of the sub-spiracular ridge is a stripe of bright and very deep yellow going all round, save a slight interruption on the sides of the second segment ; on the second are two yellow dots just above the head, and above them again two small black spots ; on the third there is a very faint yellowish dot half-way between the dorsal and sub-spiracular stripes ; just above the feet is a row of yellow longitudinal dashes, briglitest on the feet-bearing segments, and, in one example, these dashes were curved upwards, and united at the end of each segment to the yellow ridge above ; in some specimens the ventral feet are also marked with yellow ; the spiracles are conspicuous, being round and black j the pulsating dorsal vessel is rather deeper green that the ground-colour.
■ Some of my larva; bm*ied themselves about half-an-inch deep in the loose soil,
19'^-: 115
ami foniu'd a weak sort of cocoon ; others, not being supplied witli soil that could bo easily penctratod, retired under the stems of their food-plants, and in angles formed by the branching stems spun a few weak threads to keep themselves in place.
The pupa is barely half-an-inch long, dumpy in figure ; the profile of the back swells out at the thorax, drops in again at the waist, and the abdomen slopes off in a curve to the rounded anal end ; the ventral profile is much straighter, though still with a slight curve ; the wing-cases reach more than two-thirds of the whole length, and the widest part is just whei-e they end ; the thorax and wing-cases are slightly glossy, the abdomen granulated ; there are some very small hairs scattered all over ; the colour is at first greenish on the wing-cases, greenish-brown on the rest of the body ; afterwards ochrcous all over, and finally turning very dark the day before the imago emerges.
On comparing the larva; of Adonis, which I sent him, with figures of Cort/doit made some yeai-s ago, Mr. Buckler could detect no point of difference except a soine- what different tint in the green ground colour ; this made us very anxious to see the larva of Corydon again, and our wish was very soon gratified in an unexpected manner. My friend had sent me a great many plants of Hipjiocrejris comosa for my lai-vfE, and upon one of these that had not been wanted for their use, I found, on June 8th, a half-grown Lyccena lai-va, which had evidently travelled to me out of llampBhirc with its food : I had been told that Corydon and not Adonis occurred at the place whence the plants were procured, but this larva was so like those I had lately reared, that I was quite puzzled : luckily, Mr. Buckler and myself had just been comparing the notes we had made of Adonis, and so, seeing in this larva all that I had seen in Adonis, except that its bristles -were brown instead of black, I sent it on to him at once, drawing his attention to a little point which I had wished liim to notice in Adonis. Thus, with every incentive to exactness, he examined and figured it most carefully, finding nothing to notice but the thit of the ground colour and the hue of the hairs, and then kept it apart, waiting to see what the imago would prove to be, till on July 31st there appeared a fine L. Corydon.
As far, therefore, as our means of comparison have gone, our materials to work upon being some dozen and a-half larvae of Adonis on the one hand, and this one larva of Corydon and figures of others taken in 18G2 on the other, we can say that the two species resemble each other in the larval state in every particular of form and ornamentation except these two points : Adonis has its ground colour deeper green, with the hairs or bristles black, while Corydon has the ground colour of a lighter, brighter green (a green with more yellow in its composition), and the hairs light brown.
I have been thus miiuitely circumstantial in relating what was done by us because the result wc have arrived at is not altogether in agi'oenient with what wc liave been able to find already published. Thus in Stainton's ^lanual there are descriptions from Froycr, which, according to our observations, rightly distinguish between the green of Corydon and the dei^p green of Adonis, but err in making the number of yellow dorsal streaks different, for Adonis certainly has but eight in a row, and not twelve.
The only other author accessible to us, Boisduval, speaks of " le grand rapport "qu'il y a ontre ccttc chenille (Corydon) et colle d'Adoni.';," and gives every point of figure and marking as identical, but goes on to say that Adonis " est d'un vert tri^s
WQ - [October,
" pale un peu jaunitre," and calls its "tubercules" not black but " bruns ;" while Corydon " se diatinguera toujours assez facilement au premier coup d'oeil par sa "couleur d'un vert fence, et par la petitessc de ses stigmates ;" and this is directly contrary to what we saw in our examples, viz., the deep green in Adonis, and the yellowish-green in Corydon, and the spiracles of the same size and form in both. — J. IIellins, Exeter : August Wth, 1874.
Hybrids between Smerinthus ocellattis and S. populi. — Mr. Henry Stephenson, of this town, has just reared a good brood of the liybrid between Smerinihns ocel- latus and populi. I have seen a large number of them on the setting boards, and very nice they are ; the markings and colours of both species coming out very distinctly. Mr. Stephenson tells me the larvce also equally partook of the characters of both species. — Geo. T. Porbitt, Huddersfield : September 5ik, 1874.
Capture of Noctua sobrina. — I had the pleasure of taking at sugar, while staying at Loch Rannoch this summer, two beautiful examples of Noctua sobrina. By a curious coincidence, they occurred upon the same tree, a small birch about the thickness of a man's arm. The fore-wings of the first specimen I captured have the red ground colour much suffused with grey ; in the second they are of a purplish- rosy shade. — J. B. Biackbuen, Grassmeade, Southfields, Wandsworth, S.W. : 31*!; August, 1874.
Description of the larva of Acidalia straminata. — For the opportunity of studying the history of this species, the larva of which, I believe, is hitherto un- described, I am indebted to the kindness of Mr. G. B. Corbin, of Ringwood, who sent me eggs with the female moth on July 23rd of last year. The eggs are rather large for the size of the moth, oblong-square with the corners rounded, in colour reddish-brown, — deposited loose ; they hatched on the 29th of the same month, and the newly emerged larva; are long and slender,— in colour a very dark brown. They were fed on Polygonum aviculare, and grew slowly until autumn, when they hiber- nated, and re-commenced feeding early in March of this year. A great many of them died during winter and spring, and at the end of May I had only four left. These were nearly full-grown on the 18th of June, when I described them as follows : —
Length about an inch, and ratlier slender ; head rather narrower than the second segment, and deeply notclied on the crowu ; the body is rounded beneath, but rather flattened above, not so conspicuously, however, as in some other Acidalia larvse ; the second, third, and fourth segments are the narrowest, and are of about equal width ; from the fourth they gradually become wider until the 10th, which is the widest segment, is reached ; the eleventh, twelfth, and thirteenth are of about equal width, but narrower than the tenth. The segments overlap each other, rendering the divisions distinct, and, as in other species of the genus, each segment is conspicuously ribbed transversely ; the skin has a tough appearance.
The ground colour of the dorsal surface is pale slaty-grey ; the head is grey, with the sides and the notch dividing the lobes dark brown ; medio-dorsal line very narrow and pale, edged on each side in the centre of the fifth, sixth, seventh, eighth, ninth, and tenth segments, with a narrow black streak, — on the other segments the black edging is continuous, but narrower and much less distinct. On the middle
1874.] 117
segments, between the niedio-dorsfil and sub-dorsal lines, is another series of very blaek streaks, and these, being situated nearer the sub-dorsal region than the edging of the dorsal line, give the dorsal surface a very pretty variegated appearance. The sub-dorsal lines are of a very indistinct pale slate colour ; the spiracnlar lines are scarcely perceptible even with a lens. The ventral surface is of a iniiforni pale slate colour, with a very narrow indistinct paler central line, and equally indistinct transverse waved longitudinal lines.
This description applies to the two more strongly marked larvce ; in the others, the black markings on the dorsal surface were comparatively indistinct, in one shew- ing only as paler confused marks. W hen nearly ready for spinning up, I had two of them preserved ; the others spun loose cocoons in a corner of the cage, and on the 21st July a ? imago emerged. — G-. T. Pokritt, Huddersficld : July Wth, 1874.
Cravtbus verellus at Folkestone. — On the 22nd ult., whilst collecting at Folke- stone with Mr. C. A. Briggs, I captured a specimen of this insect, evidently fresh from the pupa, as the cilia, &c., were perfect. Subsequent searches failed to produce another specimen. — Walter P. Weston, 1, Duncan Terrace, Islington, N. : 2lst September, 18/4.
Re-occurrence of Lemiodes pulveralis at Folkestone. — Having captiu'cd a speci- men of L. ■pulveralis in the Warren, at Folkestone, about the beginning of August, I send you an account of it, hoping it may interest some of your readers. — H. Valen- tine Knagos, 72, Kentish Town Eoad : September, 1874.
Coriscium Bronjniardellum in Ireland. — A few days ago, Mr. P. Riall, of Bray, brought me some oak leaves, both common and evergreen, mined by a larva which Mr. Stainton has kindly identified as that of this species, not previously recorded as a native of Ireland. The mines were very abundant on both kinds of oak. — AV. F. KiBBT, Eoyal Dublin Society, Kildarc Street, Dublin : September 2nd, 187i.
A further note about Apjhelocheirus CBstivalis {ante p. 92). — I have been out to- day in search of the winged form, but without success. I took in the coiu'se of an hour one hundred and two specimens, eighty full-grown, wingless, and twenty-two larval forms, the smallest of the latter a quarter-of-an-inch long in the body. They appear to be in the middle of the stream, among a broad-leaved species of I'olamo- geton, at least I got only one hei-e and there along the edge of the stream. The place at which they abound is very contracted, not more than four or five yards in length ; above and below that spot they turn up sparingly, but there, at one working of the net, I have had from six to fifteen. — James Landy Brown, Chapelfield, Norwich ; August 2.1 th, 1874.
British Hemiptera : correction. — Der wocoris fornicatus, T)o\ig. & Scott, Brit. Hem., 329, sp. 11. From sonic specimens sent me by the late Mr. T. J. Bold, and taken, I believe, by iVIr. Hardy on or in the neighbourhood of the Cheviots, I have been enabled to satisfy myself that the above insect is merely a northern form of D. striatellus. The series consisted of tlie reddish-yellow typo form, with all inter- mediate varieties, one of which is in my pos.session. It will be neees.sary, therefore, to refer the name as a synonym to I), striatellus. — John Scott, 37, Manor Park, Lee : September 16th, 1874.
W^ LOctoljcr,
Captures of Semiptera on the west coast of Scotland, with description of a new species. — I spent fourteen of the early days of August in this locality, and this record might well be headed " A search for Jlemiptera in the Wet," for it rained more or less, or rather more than less every day, with a continual storm of wind.
About lialf-a-mile from Saltcoats begins a series of sand-hills which extends soutli-west to Troon — seven or eight miles. On these hills grows the Marram (Psamma arenariaj, and the valleys are covered with grass, thyme, Jasione montana, Galium verum, &c., and in places with a dwarf sallow. I thought I had discovered a happy hunting ground like Deal, which the place entir.'ly resembles : — " But oh ! the difference to me."
I have taken more insects at Deal in a quarter-of-au-hour than I saw here in a day. The " common objects of the shore " were absent — there was notliing common. I think that the dearth of insects in a place apparently so favourable for them is mainly caused by the fierce "wind, which here seems to sweep for ever over the surface, so that nothing can abide. Deal, it is true, is affected by stormy winds, but they are gentle in comparison with those by which this coast is afflicted. The only thing worth a pin was Nt/sius maculatus, Fieb., found holding on among the herbage.
At Saltcoats under the shelter of a stone wall, among the roots of Achillea millefolium,'! got two examples of Acocephalus hislrionicus ; and at the root of Senecio Jacolcea a single specimen of what I believe to be the maeroptcrous form of Athysanus sordidus ; also Acocephalus 2}oli/stolus, Fieb.
At the Isle of Arran, in the lovely Glen Rosa, Sphyrops amhnlansw&sBhwxidi&nt among ferns, and Limotettix striola, Fall., on rushes. I got one Thamnotettix cruentata, Panz., on hoathcr ; and one Lygus rugicollis, Fall., on sallow. On the margin of the " burn " that comes tumbling down the glen, I found Salda salta- toria, Linn., S. littoraUs, Linn., and S. stellata, Curt.
At West Kilbride, in the avenue of Crosbie Castle, I got the rare maeroptcrous form of Bryocoris pteridis on ferns ; on the adjacent moors, Acocephalus bifasciatus, Liini., and Agalliastes saltitans, Fall. (1), among tall heather. Ptyelus spumarius, L., was common, but all the examples of this usually variable species were remarkable as being of one uniform pattern, and light brown colour. On a plant of Southern- wood (Artemisia AbrotanumJ growing in a shepherd's garden, I found the larva, pupa, and imago of a species of Tyjjhloryhidce, which I believe to be undescribed. and which may be briefly characterised as follows : —
EurTERYX ABEOTANI, M. sp.
Upper-side pale greenish-yellow. Head usually with two dark spots on the front, but sometimes immaculate. Pronotum sometimes with one or two brown spots on the sides. Scutellum black at the basal angles. Elytra : coritim broadly pale exteriorly, inwardly, except at the base, with long, broad purplish-brown dashes extending to the apex ; the nerves of the pale ground colour ; clarus pale, usually with a brown central streak and one or two small brown spots. Wings diaphanous, iridescent ; nerves black. Legs pale yellow. Abdomen black on the under-side ; in the ? , the last abdominal segment posteriorly, and the genital segments on each side of the middle, broadly pale yellow. Length, 1^ line.
This species was first taken last year by the Rev. T. A. Marshall, on southern- wood in his garden at Lastingham. — J. W. Douju.AS, Lee : Sept. 2nd, 1874.
1874.] 119
DESCRIPTION OF A NEW SPECIES OF LIBURNIA FROM BISKRA
(ALGERIA). Br JOHN SCOTT.
In the epring of this year, MM. Lethierry and Puton made a pili^riniage to Algeria in scarcli of insects, as, I believe, they have done before, and great success seems to have attended their enterprise, as each succeeding journey has added novelties to the fauna. I can see no reason why the greater portion of the insects found on the extra European portion of the basin of the Mediterranean should not occur on the most southerly shores of our continent ; climate and soil are identical, and similar localities are almost as numerous in the one as in the other. Grreece and the Archipelago on the cast, and Spain on the west, are comparatively unworked places, and Eoumelia, and indeed the whole of the western shore of the Black Sea, may be placed in Ihe same category.
I understand that Dr. Puton is engaged upon a new edition of his " Catalogue des Hemipteres Heteropteres d'Europe," which may bo ex- pected to be published before this year expii'es, and in it he contemplates adding a list of the insects of this order known to him to occur in the basin of the Mediterranean. This will be of infinite value to all those who are studying the European forms of Hemiptera, which course, I am sorry to say, is almost exclusively confined to continental naturalists. I may add that it was at the request of M. Lethierry, I have under- taken to write the description of the insect that follows, and that there are several other species in different genera, which he purposes describing himself.
Genus LIBURNIA, Stal. (DELPHACINUS, Fieb.). Species Liburma Putoni, Lethierry (M.S.). Head pentagonal (Section D, Scott in Ent. Mo. Mag., vol. vii, p. 29 (1870).
Undeveloped form, ,^ . IL-ad, 2^ronotum, and scutellmn, pale tes- taceous. Elytra black, with a broad, transverse, whitish, or pale testaceous-white band at the base. Abdomen black, with a narrow yellowiHli doi'siil line.
Head — crown pale testaceous, keels ncuto, somewhat prominent ; basal fovere distinet.
I'''ace and aiilennee jiale testaeeous, keels of the former somewhat acute and
distinct. J'J^es testaceous, exteriorly fuscous. Thorax — pronoltim and sculellum pale testaceous, shining. Elylra black, with a
broad, transverse, whitish or pale testaceous-white band at the base ; nerves
distinct, not granulated ; near each basal angle a pitch v-brown spot ; entire
120 [October, 1874.
marginal nerve testaceous ; posterior margin straight, angles rounded. Legs pale fuscous-testaceous ; tihioR darkest j tarsi testaceous ; apex of tlie third joint and claws brown. Abdomen black, with a narrow yellowish dorsal line ; sides with a yellow spot at the posterior angle of each segment ; genital segment black ; styloid processes somewhat billhook-shaped, the points above turned towards and touching each other.
Uudeyeloped form, $ . Testaceous.
Abdomen above testaceous, with a fuscous shade, sides with two longitudinal, pitchy- brown lines interrupted at the anterior margin of each segment.
Length I5 line.
On tlie nerves of the elytra of tlie ? I possess, and also on otliers (but not all), in the collection of M. Lethierry, are some minute pitchy-brown or black granules, but these are so irregularly placed, and so different in position on each elytron, that I believe them to be accidental, and not characteristic of the species.
The only other insect I know referable to this section is our i. mesomela; the white head, pronotum, and elytra of which will at once distinguish it from the species now described.
37, Manor Park, Lee, S.E. :
September 1874.
ON CEETAIN BRITISH HEMIPTERA-HOMOPTERA.
BY JOHN SCOTT.
[Revision of the genus STRONGXLOCEPHALrs, and description of a new species.^
In the revision of the genus Acocephahis, Ent. Mo. Mag., vol. ix, p. 264, I refer to Flor's removal of the then only known species from the last named genus, on account of the very perceptible differences in the structure of the head alone, to that of his genus Strongylocephalus. At the time I then "OTote, I had not seen a British exponent of agrestis, Eall., and it is only within the last few days that I have had this pleasure. The number of insects I have examined and supposed to be this species is very great. In each and every instance, they have proved to be the Athysanus ohscurellus, Kirschb., an insect as unlike the true S. agrestis as any two insects could reasonably be. My friend the Rev. T. A. Marshall's description of Acocephahis agrestis, Ent. Mo. Mag., vol. ii, p. 197, will therefore require to be referred to Athysanus ohscurellus, as also the insects representing it in his col- lection, which last he has kindly allowed me to have in my possession for many months. I had begun to think that the genus Strongylo- cephalus had no representative here ; but some few months before the
November, 1874 ] 121
death of my friend Mr. T. J. Bold, be Bcnt me two Bpecimens of nn insect wliich I could not detcrmiuo from any description to be met with in books. After sending it to Dr. J. Sablberg (wbo returned it ■nitliout a name, or even a remark), I betbougbt me of Dr. Fieber'a drawings and M. Lethierry, to whom I wrote, asking bim to be good cnougb to let me see tbem for a single day ; and, owing to bis great kindness, I bave been enabled to satisfy myself tbat Mr. Bold's species is no otber than StroyigyJocephahis Megerlei, Fieb. Tbis name, wbicb I retain in respect to bis memory, is only to be met with on the drawing and in his Catalogue of Cicadiuen, published in 1872. I there- upon hastened to draw up a description, and bad actually sent it to be printed, when, amongst some Homoptera collected by Mr. E. Saunders at Chobham, my eye fell upon the real " Simon Pure," the missing S. (if/restis. I am now, therefore, able to describe the only two species at l)reseut known to be European. After studying the descriptions of Aynhhjccphahis irroratus, Curtis, B. E., 572, n. 6, and Phrynomorphus niflihia, ^, Curtis, Ent. Mag., i, 19^!, I believe they also only refer to Alkj/sanus obscurellus, Kirscbbaum.
Sub-Family JASSINA, Stal.
Genus STEONGTLOCEPHALUS, Elor.
Species 1. — Stronoylocephalus agrestis, Fall.
Cicatla agrestis, Fall., Hem. Suec. Cicad., 36, 18 (182G). Acocephahis (Strong ylocephalus) agrestis, Flor, Ebyn. Livl., ii, 210, G (1801).
(J . Dusky testaceous. Elytra — coriuin : nerves greyish, irregu- larly spotted with fuscous-brown ; disc irregularly spotted with fuscous-brown ; anterior marginal nerve interiorly with a frequently much interrupted fuscous-brown line, towards and round the apex, broken into three or four larger patches.
jfead — crown dusky testaceous without a narrow black liiio just within tlio anterior maro-in ; disc more or less thickly covered with minute curved and wavy linos and spots of fuscous-brown. Face dai-k fuscous-browu, thickly spotted with testaceous. Clypetis testaceous or yellowish, narrowly margined with fuscous- brown. Cheeks testaceous or yellowish, thickly spotted with fuscous-brown. Aidennce fuscous-brown, first joint white, second at tho apox white ; selce fuscous-brown. Thorax— pronotum dusky testaceous, finely wrinkleil tmnsversi-ly, except next tho anterior margin ; disc thickly covered with very short streaks and luscous-brovvii spots between the wruikles. Scutellum dusky testaceous, with ii few fuseous- brown spots next the base. Elytra dusky testaceous. Clavus ; di.-e and nerves
•129 INovcmbcr,
irregularly spotted with fuscouR-browu ; inner marginal nerve between the apex and the central nerve with a fuscous-brown streak interiorly. Corium dusky testaceous, nerves greyish, anterior marginal nerve interiorly with a fuscous- brown line, more or less interrupted and broken into spots ; towards and round the apex throe or four larger patches, and below the apex of the clavus one or two short streaks also fuscous-brown ; inner nerves and disc irregularly spotted with fuscous-brown. Zec/s yellowish or brownish-yellow. Thighs : first and Becond pairs black for two-thirds their length from the base, or with longitudinal streaks ; before the apex a nai-row black ring ; third more or less fuscous-brown or black. Tibice exteriorly of the first and second pairs alternately spotted with fuscous-brown or black and white ; third exteriorly with a few black punctures, in which some of the yellowish spines are set. Tarsi fuscous-brown ; base of the second and third joints narrowly yellowish-white.
Abdomen beneath black ; external processes of the genital segments brownish-yellow, broad, rounded and recurved at the apex ; upper margin black ; exteriorly with several stout, erect, yellowish, or brownish-yellow hairs.
$ . Somewhat greyer througliout than the other sex ; the mark- ings larger and more pronounced, whilst frequently some of the cells are entirely fuscous-brown, or sparingly spotted with minute yellowish- grey spots.
Length, <? , 2i- ; ? , 2J lines.
Differs from the next species in the absence of the dai"k line next the anterior margin of the cro\^Ti ; the paler and much more spotted face, the grey nerves of the corium, and the dark brown margins to the cells of the same. Three examples (one <^, two $ ) taken by Mr. E. Saunders, at Chobham, in August, by sweeping in a damp place amongst some osiers.
Species 2. — Steokgylocephalus Megeblei, Fieb. (M.S.). Dark testaceous. JSlytra : nerves more or loss broadly and irregularly margined with dark brown ; round the apex four or five, generally the latter, darlv brown patches. -Lcffs somewhat brownish- testaceous. Thighs : first and second pairs with a black ring before the apex. Tibia : first and second pairs on the anterior margin and sides with irregular black spots.
Sead — crown somewhat brownish-testaceous, with a narrow black line extending from eye to eye, just within, and running parallel with, the anterior margin. Face black, the lower half more or less thickly covered with minute yellowish- brown spots occasionally confluent ; lower margin narrowly yellowish-brown. Clypeiis black, with a few yellowish-brown spots. Cheeks yellowish-brown, with several short black irregular streaks or spots. Anfennce pitchy-brown ; apex of the second joint brownish-yellow ; setcc pitchy-brown.
Thorax — })roi>ofuin somewhat brownish-testaceous, posteriorly finely wrinkled
1874] 123
tranevorsely, and faintly sprinkled with a few black atoms. Scutelltim somewhat brownish-testaceous, with a small triangular black spot near each basal angle. Elytra dark testaceous, sides of the nerves thickly but irregularly punctured, giving to the disc a finely crenatc appearance. Clavus : nerves very finely mar- gined with dark brown, frequently interrxipted at irregular intervals ; apex of the dorsal suture with a short dark brown streak, and apex of the central nerve with a somewhat triangular spot of the same colour. Corium : nerves margined with dark brown, in some portions very finely or almost obsolete, in others more broadly and irregidarly ; immediately ■nathin the anterior margin, several short dark brown spots or short streaks, more or less joined, and more or less distinct, terminating in a larger elongate patch, almost in a lino with the transverse nerve at the base of the anto-apical area, below the latter patch is another somewhat shorter and broader ; round the apex, three others generally joined interioi'ly, and forming a somewhat ^-shaped character, and a short streak below the apex of the clavus ; interior and exterior cubital nerve, next the apex, generally dark brown ; all the other nerves, more especially towards the apex, spotted with dark bi'own. Sicrnumhlack. ie^r* brownish-testaceous. T/ii^ As : first and second pairs black, apex, and a ring before the latter, brownish-testaceous ; third black, upper and lower margins somewhat brownish. Tibice brownish-testaceous, apex and a few spots down the anterior margin of the first and second pairs, black ; tliird brown, anterior margin spotted with black, in which the brown spines are set, apex black. Tarsi brownish-testaceous ; apex of the first and tliird joints broadly black, second brown.
Abdomen above black ; side margins narrowly brownish ; posterior margin of the segments very narrowly yellowish ; beneath black, sides brownish-testaceous ; posterior margin of the last segment in the middle testaceous ; last genital seg- ment black ; external processes broad, brown, somewhat piccous towards the apex, and with two rows of very fine punctures down the middle and almost
touching each other.
Length 2^ lines.
I have only bgou two Hpcciincns, boili ^ , -wliifli were sent to me for determination by tliu late Mr. T. J. liukl, wbo kiudly presented me with one of them.
Manor Tark, Lee, S.E.
September, 187'1.
DESCRirXION OF TWO NEW GENERA OF SCAIU/J.EIU.E. UY U. SlIAIM', .M.J5.
The two genera here characterized are of considerable interest, owing to the structure of the ventral portion of the hind-body. Were it not for a peculiarity in this respect, they would take their place in the group of the Aphodiides, in the neighbourliood of ^(jhtUa. But the structure of the part alluded to irf quite thai of the Trof/ides ; and
124 [Novembei-,
I tWnk it will therefore be advisable to consider tbem as forming a small separate group, to be placed near the Aphodiides. Though the structure of the hind-body appears to be so like that of Tro^, in their other characters these insects do not show any considerable approach to the Trogides. The genus Eremazus of Mulsant belongs, I have little doubt, to this group, which may be called Tolisides, if it be con- sidered neccssaiy to give it a special name. Though Mulsant does not speak of the structure of the hind-body, he placed his genus in the Trogides. Lacordaire, to whom this genus of Mulsant was unknown, placed it with doubt in the Ajjhodiidcs, calling attention, however, to Mulsant's silence as to the structure of the hind-body. It is also worth while noticing that Pairmaire has described (Ann. Soc. Ent. Er., 1870, p. 374) an insect under the name of uSSgialia Marmottani, which I feel pretty certain is a member of the group Tolisides. Pairmaire tells us that he did not dare to take oif its card the single example known of his 2E. Marmottani ; but the characters he mentions to dis- tinguish it, viz., the invisible eyes, the unstriated elytra, and the Tra- chyscelid facies, leave no doubt in my mind that it is a member of the group here established, ^gialia Marmottani was found at Biskra in Algeria ; and it is highly probable that it is synonymous with Erema- zus tmistriatus, Muls.
MiLLiKGENiA, n. gen.
AntenncE small, ciglit-jointecl, 1st joint stout, oval (much naiTower just above the base than at the extreinity), its length not quite twice its width, 2ncl joint stout, quite twice as broad as the following joints, joints 3, 4 and 5 small, the 5tli shorter and scarcely broader than the 4th, closely applied to and not very distinct from the base of the 6th joint, joints 6 — 8 forming a comparatively large oval club, the sutures of wliich arc transverse.
Mandibles short but very thick, outwardly rounded, the inner margin forming three or four stout teeth.
MaxillcB with both lobes distinct, the inner one small, apparently homy, and divided into three or four short finger-like lobes. The upper lobe membninous, armed on the inner side vrith six or seven pointed spinula?, furnished outwardly with a long, fine pubescence. Maxillary palpi long, four-jointed, the tei-minal joint elongate- oval, longer than the two preceding joints together.
Mentum rounded at the extremity and emarginatc in the middle, Ugula entirely concealed ; labial palpi three-jointed, 1st joint slender, cylindrie, moderately long, 2nd joint sub-triangular, about as long as broad, 3rd joint oval (or rather pear-shaped), longer than the 2nd joint.
Labrum transverse, the front margin slightly emarginate in the middle, but covered with a dense pubescence, which projects much beyond the labrum and pre- vents i(s form being seen. _
1974.] 125
Head small, the clypciis xory short, in the middle with n prominent small notclied process, ■which projects over the labrum, but which cannot bo seen without dissection, on account of the hairs with which the front margin is fringed, the mandibles ex- posed ; eyes small, placed at the lower part of side of the head, and not at all visible from above.
Prosternvm very short. Mesostenium rather large, separating the middle cox89 by only a thin lamina ; middle coxal cavities elongate, obliquely transverse. Meta- stenium moderately long.
Hind-body composed of five ventral horny segments, of which the basal one is visible only at the sides and in the middle as a small process projecting between the hiud coxse : on dissecting off the hind-body, however, the existence of a sixth seg- ment is found to be indicated, by a very small upright process (just as in the genus Trox) placed in front of the process mentioned above as forming the middle of the basal segment ; 2nd, 3rd, and 4th segments rather short, about equal to one another, 5th segment comparatively long, about as long as the two preceding segments together.
Legs short, and very robust, the front tibise tridentate, the two lower teeth very long and pointed ; the hind tibijB very broad, on the outside with two very deep notches ; their apical spurs pointed, not dilated ; the middle tibia? similar to the hind ones, but not so stout. All the tarsi 5-jointcd, the hinder ones with the joints broad and flattened, the basal joint about as long as the three following togetlier, the last joint terminated by a single short uuguiculus.
The insect is of convex form, and its facies is a good deal that of u^gialia glohosa.
MlLLrS^GE^'IA FOSSOR, n. sp. Transversim valde convexa,fidva, svpra Cmarginibus exceptlsj nuda, sitbtus sat dense longius ciliata ; capite ruguloso-punctato ; protJiorace fortiter transversa, (Bqnali, crehre punctata ; scutello parvo, IcEvi ; elgtris crehre punctatis, estriatis, sed sulci humeralis ohsoleti indicationibus. Lang. corp. 4^ mm. ; lat. 2 mm.
This interesting insect was captured by Dr. Millingen, in Lower Egypt : probably in the neighbourhood of Cairo. I have had much pleasure in naming this important genus in his honour, our collections in this country having been enriched by him with many interesting and novel species from the East,
ToLisus, n. gen. This genus is closely allied to Milling cnia, but its facies is rather that of A])hodius than uJ^gialia, and it differs by its larger eyes, which, however, are concealed under the front angles of the thorax, and by its tarsi being f urni.shed with two unguiculi. As minor characters, I may mention that ToUsus has the metasternum and the apical seg- ment of the hind-body remarkably elongate, the metasternum, moreover, is provided near its hind margin on each side with a curved impression to adapt it to the femora ; and the front tibitc have also one or more
\2G [XoTcmber,
additional small tocth on the upper part. I have not dissected the moLitli, but do Jiot think from what I can see of its parts that they would present any important difference from Millingenia.
TOLISUS JDNEUS, n. sp. Livide-testacetis, suprcl mneus, nitidus (marginihus exceptis) nndits, stebtils longius minus dense ciliatus ; pedibns rufescentibus ; eaj)ite crebre ruguloso-punctato ; thorace transversa, cum elytris sparsim punctatis, prceter punctos majores p>''^nctis niinutis adspersis ; elytris sulco j)Ost-JiumeraU obsoleto. Long. corp. 4 mm.
I have received two individuals of this species taken by Dr. Mil- lingen at Jeddah, and I have a third specimen f i*om Western Syria which I believe to belong to the same species, though it is a little smaller, and has the upper tooth of the front tibiaj smaller than in the Arabian individuals,
TOLISTTS MIKOR, 71. sp. T. mneo simillimtis sed pernio minor, cumque mandibulis minus validis Tiaud adeo porrectis. Long. corp. 3J mm.
I have only a single specimen of this species ; it was brought from Ajmere, North-Western India, by Mr. Crowder,
Thomhill, Dumfries :
October 25^A, 1874.
DESCEIPTION OF A NEW SPECIES OP HETEKOMEKOUS COLEO- PTERA BELONaiNQ TO THE GENUS TOXICUM.
BT CHAS. O. WATEEHOFSE. TOXICTJM TRICOBNUTUM, Sp. n.
JElongatum, cylindricum, atrum. Capite piano crebre punctulato. Tliorace convcxiuscido, Jongitudlne paidulo latiori, irrcgulariter discrete 2'>unctato, antice Jeviter cmarfjinato, postice hisinuato, anguJis anticis obtusis, lateribus rectis 2JnraJleJis, angulis posticis aeutiusculis. Sciitello pari'O, semicirculci7'i, jJunctuJafo, jnceo. Elytris tliorace paulo latiorihus, triplo longiorihiis,paraUelis, ad apicem arciiato-acuminat is, sat fortiter sfriatis, striis sat crebre fortiter punctatis, interstitiis leviter contexts obsolete suhtilissime punctulatis. Gorpore suhttis nigro-piceo, nitido. Ore antemiis pedibusque piceis.
Long. 51—8 Tin., lat. 2— 2f Un.
Mas : Clypeo cornu brcvi crecto ad apicem dilatato et cmarginato. Fronte supra ociilos auricuJis duobus brevibus acutis divaricatis, intus longe fulvo-pilosis, instructa.
Fern. : Clypeo in medio convcxo. Fronte utrinque supra ocuJos carinata.
Hab. : Japan, Yokohama. Coll. Brit. Mus.
Britisli Museum : October \2th, 1874.
1874.] 127
ON A NEW QENUS OF LONGICORN BEETLES FROM AUSTRALIA. BY CIIAS. O. WATERHOUSE.
CEEAMB YGID^ (FkoracantJndes) . Demeliijs, gen. nov. Palpi short, stout, with the apical joint truncate. Head short, very slightly convex between the antennae, longitudinally canaliculate. Antennae nearly reaching to the apex of the elytra, rather stout, pubescent ; the basal joint sub-cylindrical ; the second shorter than broad ; the third and fourth joints scarcely as long as the first, with a strong spine at the apex on the inner side ; the fifth, sixth, and seventh as long as the first, more slender than the preceding, distinctly spined at the apex ; the eighth to tenth becoming shorter and more slender, with scarcely any trace of apical spine ; the eleventh joint flattened. The eyes well sepai-ated above, the lower lobe projecting to the front of the antennal orbit. Thorax transverse, narrowest behind, with two tubercular processes on each side, and two on the disc. ScutcUum triangular, equilateral. Elytra convex, parallel, truncate at the apex, each furnished with two distinct spines. Legs long ; anterior coxae nearly globular ; the femora sub-linear, unarmed ; posterior tarsi with the basal joint as long as the two following together. Prostcrnal process narrow, arched. Mesosternal process moderately broad, arched. Body, above and below, in parts thickly clothed with pu- bescence. Allied to Orion.
Demelitjs semirtjgosus, sp. n.
Nigro-piceus ; capita thoraceque supra dense albo-pnhescentibus, hoc quadrino- doso posiice utrinque fusco-maculato. Scutello medio alio. Elytris thorace via) latiorihus sed qiiadrupio longioribus, sat convexis, ajncem versus rotundato-angustaf is, ad apicem Iruncatis, quadri-spinosis, suttcrd lineisqne sex fusco-imhescentibus, pone medium fasciis duabus irregularibus albo-piubescentibus ; hasi fortiter dense punctatis, apice sublcEvibus. Antennis pedibusque dense griseo-fusco-pubescentibus ; femoribus in medio fere nudis, albo-annulatis. Corpore subttis fusco-pubescenti, griseo-albo- maculato. Long. 14^ lin., lat. 5J lin.
I need only add to the above description that the three basal joints of the antenna) are much less densely clothed with pubescence than the following. The thorax is furnished on each side with two somewhat acute processes, the posterior one being the more prominent; behind this the thorax becomes narrower, being at the base not broader than the head ; the disc has four nodules, of which two are situated near the front, and are somewhat acute ; the posterior pair are wider apart, elongate and oblique. The basal half of tlie elytra is very strongly punctured ; about the shoulders the punctures are honey- combed. There is a white spot below the shoulders on the margin.
Uah. : Queensland. Coll. Brit. Mus.
British Muscniiu : ^eptcmbvr \Uh, ib71.
228 LNovember,
DESCRIPTION OF A NEW SPECIES OF APION FEOM THE SHETLAND ISLES.
BY TUE REV. T. BLACKBURN, B.A.
Apion Etei, n. s.
OhJonffum, nigrum, nitidum ; rostro arctiato, tlwrace longiore, fem-
ince lonrjiore guam maris, medio dilatato, pmictato ; antennis hrevihus,
articulo primo bnsi testaceo ; femorihus (^apice excepto) tibiisque anticis
Jlavis ; thorace hrevi, lato, laterihus rotundatis, parce profunde pmictato ;
elytris fortiter punctato-striatis, interstitiis vix elevatis.
Long. corp. 1\ — 1^ lin.
This species is separated from all the rest in the group with the femora and anterior tibia) alone yellow, by its short broad sparingly punctured thorax (which is scarcely, if at all, longer than broad) the sides of which are very evidently rounded. Its rostrum is as strongly arched as in ononidis, from which, however, besides the thoracic and other characters, its short dark antenna? (resembling those of assimile) distinguish it. It appears to me most nearly allied iofagi, from which it differs (besides the thoracic characters) by its shorter rostrum and anteunse, the greater arcuation of the former, and the darker base of the latter. Its larger size, apart from thoracic and other differences, at once removes it from assimile and trifolii.
I have examined the European collection at the British Museum, and descriptions of all European species of Apian I could ascertain to have been described in the yellow-legged group, without finding any- thing like this insect. I should have wished to forward it to M. Wencker, as the highest authority on the genus, before taking any further step, but his untimely decease has prevented my doing so. Under the circumstances, I think I am justified as describing it as new. I dedicate it, as a tribute of respect, to my friend Mr. E. C. Eye.
This insect was obtained, first by my friend Mr. C. E. Lilley, and subsequently by myself, by promiscuous sweeping in the Shetland Islands, last July. Unfortunately, I mistook it at the time for fagi, and did not give particular attention to its food-plant.
Greenliitho : October, 1874.
DESCRIPTION OF a NEW SPECIES of ERIOCAMPA FROM SCOTLAND ;
WITH NOTE ON A VARIETY OF TAXONUS EQUISETI, FALL.
BY P. CAMERON, JuH.
EeIOCAMPA TESTACEIPES, sp. 11.
E. nigra, nitida, genuhus, tihiis, taj'sisque testaceis ; alis suh- fumaiis. Long. corp. 2 Jin. ; exp. alar. 5 lin.
1874. 129
(? . AntennPD black, n little longer than the abdomen. Ilead black, shining. Thorax black, shining ; cenchri large, dull grey. Abdomen black. Wings slightly- longer than is usual in the genus ; scarcely hyaline, having a smoky tinge ; costa and stigma black. The marginal nervure is received nearly into the middle of the tliird sub-marginal cell ; and it is more perpendicular than in the other species : the cell structure of the posterior winga is the same as in E. Cinxia. Feet with the femora black, except at the apices, which, with the tibiaj and tarsi, arc testaceous ; posterior tarsi fuscous.
The colouration of the legs at once distinguishes E. tesfaceipes from the other European species of Eriocampa. It seems to be most nearly related to E. Cinxia.
I captured one example on alder growing close to the Church at Kilmorack, near Beauly, on 6th June last.
Taxonus equiseti, Fall. In Scotland . there occurs a variety of Taxonus equiseti, Eall. {hi color, Kl.), which differs from the type in having only a somewhat triangular blotch (broadest at the posterior part of the segment) instead of the whole of the third abdominal segment red. This variety (which embraces both sexes) is tolerably constant, and is in- teresting as she^\■ing that Taxonus coxalis, KL, must be regarded as a variety of equiseti ; for it does not differ from the latter, except in the fact that it has two instead of three abdominal segments red ; and the Scotch form with its two and a half segments red, forms a link between the other two. Furthermore, I possess a specimen of equiseti with four segments red, and with, moreover, the stigma white at the base ; so that it looks as if T. sticticus were also a variety. T. equiseti has sometimes the labrum black.
136, West Graham Street, Glasgow : October, 1874.
DESCRIPTION OF A NEW PAPILIO FEOM MADAGASCAR. BY W. L. DISTANT.
Papilio Loumieei, sp. nov. Wings above black, fringes spotted with pale sulphur-yellow ; front wings with discoidal cell streaked with four parallel lines of yellowish-grey ; a spot on lower discoccllular, a straight, oblique, transverse series of nine pale yellow oval spots, the two nearest to costa only divided by third sub-costal branch ; between the fifth to ninth spots four milky pyriforra patches ; a sub-marginal series of cigiit small palo yellow spots ; hind wings crossed at the middle by a transverse palo yellow irregidar band ; a largo black spot on abdominal area, margined inwardly with blue scales and outwardly by a rcddish-orangc lunulc, a more obscure spot similarly margined on
130 (November,
apex ; from the abdominal epot to second sub-costal branch an irregular line of golden scales interrupted on each interspace by a blue spot ; a sub-marginal series oi five pale yellow spots ; a semi-circular spot of the same colour on each side of the tail ; body above dark brown ; palpi pale yellow ; wings below nearly as in Papilio Menestheiis, but the discal series of spots in front wings straight ; body below pale yellow ; abdomen with two ventral parallel lines of black.
Expanse of wings, about 5 inches 2 lines.
Captured by the late Mr. L. Lormier. Habitat : Madagascar. Note. — The species figured by Mr. Trimen as Papilio Mcnesthcus appears not to be typical.
Strcatliam Cottage, Buccleuch Road, West Dulwieh, S.E. :
October, 1874.
DESCRIPTIONS OF FIVE NEW SPECIES OF ACR2EA FROM WEST
AFRICA.
BT "W. C. HEWITSON, F.L.S.
ACB^A ViKIDIA, sp. n.
Upper-side : dark brown. Anterior wing with a spot near the apex, and a ])road band below it to the middle of the inner margin, marked (not always) by a black spot, both rufous-orange. Posterior wing scarlet with the base and outer margin dark brown ; a small black spot on the middle of the costal margin.
Under-side : rufous. Both wings with the OTiter margin rufous-brown marked by a series of pyramidal spots. Anterior wing with a spot in the cell, a band at the end of the cell, and two small spots below these, all black ; the sub-apical spot of tho upper-side nearly white. Posterior wing with fifteen small black spots between tho- base and the middle ; two of them near the base, two near the costal margin, two in the cell, two beyond these and seven between them and the inner margin. Exp. 1-^^ inch.
Hab. Angola.
Near A. Eponina ; its chief difference being the arrangement of the basal black spots which are hex'e spread over half the wing, and in Eponina crowded together near the base.
AcEJEA Oei>'a, sp. n.
Upper-side: $, dart brown. Anterior wing with the cell scarlet ; a band of six spots, three of which nearest the apex — sometimes dull white, sometimes rufous, — are at an angle with the other three, which arc scarlet, and placed between the branches of the median nervure, the last forming a band near and 2)arallel to the inner margin. Posterior wing scarlet with several spots crowded together near the base, and the outer margin all black.
Under-side : ochrcous-yellow. Both wings with the ncrvurcs as they approach the outer margin and liiics between them dark brown. Anterior wing with the
1874.] 131
brown as above, but palor. Posterior wing witli four spots near Iho base, an oblique baud of four spots and a central band of eleven spots, three of wbieh are near the eostal margin and four (minute) at the end of the cell. Exp. 2i-y mch. Hab. Fernando Po (Eogers).
No dcpcndancc can be placed upon ilic nnmbcr of spotn near tho base o£ tlic posterior wing. The specimen I have described has nine- teen spots, auotlier has only thirteen, two or three spots being some- times united into one.
AcEiEA Oeeta, sp. n.
Upper-side : $ , dark brown. Anterior wing with the cell (where it is marked by two black spots), a band parallel and near to the inner margin, and an oblong spot between the first and second median nervules, and two small spots below these, all scarlet ; an oblique band of three white spots beyond the middle. Posterior wing scarlet with several spots near the base, a band of spots at the midtUe and tho outer margin, which is finely indented mwardly, all black.
Under-side : ochreous-ycUow. Both wings with the nervurcs near tho outer margin and lines between them brown. Anterior wing with a central spot of brown. Posterior wing with four spots at the base, an oblique band of five spots, three spots, one minute, in the cell, and a central transverse band of eight spots, all black.
Exp. 2j\; inch.
Ilab. Fernando Po (Eogers).
AcE^A Oppidia, sp. n.
Upper-side: dark brown. Anterior wing with an indistinct rufous band parallel and near to the inner margin ; two central spots of tJie same coloiu- (one in the cell), an oblique triCd white spot beyond the middle. Posterior wing brick-red, with tho base, which is marked by three or fom- black spots, and the outer margin, dark brown.
Under-side : ochreous-yeUow. Both wings with the ncrvures near the outer margin and lines between them dark brown. Anterior wing clouded with brown from the base to the middle. Posterior wing marked near the base by sixteen black spots, four of them near tlio base, two oblique bands of four each, three spots near tho costal margin and a minute spot near the middle.
Exp. 2^55 inch.
Hab. Fernando Po (Eogers).
Acej:a Oeestia, sp. n.
Upper-side : <J , anterior wing transparent, clouded with brown, chiefly at tho base and outer margins, tho nci-vures black. Posterior wing rufous-orange, with some black spots near tho base and inner margin (better to describe from below), and a circular series of seven s^wts of the same colour at the middle ; the outer margin dark brown, dentatcd inwardly.
132 [November,
Under-side : as above, except that neitlicr of tlie wings is margined with brown. Posterior wing with three spots at the base, an oblique band of four spots, a spot on the costal margin and a larger spot in the cell, all black. Exp. ly% inch.
Hab. Fernando Po (Rogers).
Near to A. Cerasa as well as to Quirina.
Oatlands, Weybridge :
October, 1874.
NOTES ON BRITISH TORTRICES. BY C. G. BAEEETT. {continued from J) . 62).
Tlitlieocliroa rugosnna, ITiibn. — Tlie larva of tliis species does not appear to have been noticed in this country. Its habit of feeding iu the unripe berries of Bryonia dioica, and spinning uj) on the stem, is recorded by the late Senator yon Heyden in the Stettin, ent. Zeitung, and translated in the Entom. Annual for 18G7 by Mr. Stainton. M. Milliere (Icon, iii, p. 334) states that it feeds also upon Echalium elaterium (not a British plant).
Eriopsela fractifasciana, Haw. — According to M. Jourdhcuille's Calendar, the larva of this species feeds in heads of Scabious iu dry fields.
JEriopsela quadrana, Hiibn. — Continental specimens of this and the preceding species are larger than ours. Professor Zeller tells mo that in Switzerland j&. qiuidrana flies in June and July, but in Germany in May, as with us.
Chrosis tesserana, Tr. (Schiff.). — Dr. "Wocke has had the mis- fortune to discover an earlier name for this species in " Der Natur- forscher" — Alcella, Schultze (1776). The beautiful variations in colour which it frequently assumes in this country seem to bo unknown in Germany,
Chrosis Audouinana, Dup. — This also Dr. "Wocke corrects to hifasciana, Hiibn., undoubtedly an earlier name. He places it in the genus Seterognomon (a sub-division of Torlrix), with viridana, Berg- manniana, Conwayana, &c.
Argyrolepia ceneana, Hiibn. — In addition to "Wilkinson's localities, this has occurred, but not commonly, at Haslemere in the south of Surrey.
Argyrolepia Sch'ehersiana, Frul. — In Germany, Prof. Zeller tells
1874.. 133
me, this species is found commonly on chn, and M. Jourdhcuille says "larva under bark of large poplars and elms." But, as far as can be ascertained, all the specimens obtained in this country have been from the fens of lluntingdonf^hirc and Cambridgeshire, where they must surely find some other food.
Argyrolepia MusseJiIiana, Tr. — This species is very closely allied to Eupcecilia Geyeriana and vectiscma, and may possibly be found in collections under the latter of these names or that of griseana. I have an old specimen which was sent me many years ago under one of tliese names, and three more exist in Mr. Douglas's Collection, but their localities cannot now be traced. Besides Mr. Doubleday's two specimens taken by Weaver in Devonshire, these are the only British examples that have come under my notice.
Dr. AVocke sinks vectisana, "Wilk., into a synonym of these species, l)ut the two species, although allied, are certainly distinct. Mussehliana seems out of place in the genus AvgyroJepia^ and should be included in EupoeciUa with its allies ; but German authors ignore both genera, placing the whole of their species, with those contained in Chrosis, Lozopei'a, Xanthosetia, Dapsilia, and Argyridia, in the genus Cochylis, Tr. ; and in Wocke's List these genera do not even form separate sections of that genus, but are mixed together in a wonderful manner. In the case of very rare insects like this and the preceding, it is ex- ceedingly difficult to obtain a satisfactory knowledge of their habits and food. Professor Zeller tells me that Mussehliana flies in fields where Liniim cntharticum abounds, and he evidently thinks the insect attached to that plant, which is found only in dry pastures ; but M. Eagonot assures me that he has taken the moth in France, in marshy meadows. INI. Jourdhcuille relates that the larva feeds in stems of Alisma, but I feel no doubt that this is an error for udana, Gn. The habits of the whole of this group are still involved in great obscurity.
Argyrolepia Baumanniana, Schiff. — Changed by Dr. Wocke to Hart manni ana, Clerck (Linn.), a much earlier name.
Argyrolepia sullaumanniana, "Wilk. — Not noticed in Staudinger and Wocke's Catalogue, nor till lately in Mr. Doubleday's List. I have found it commonly in old chalk pits near Norwich, and am tho- roughly convinced that it is distinct from the preceding species, with which I have also been familiar in the damp woods of the south of England. To this, Mr. Doubleday and Professor Zeller, neither of whom was previously acquainted with the species, now agree. AVilk- inson's description and distinctive characters are excellent, but many of the Norfolk specimens arc far smaller than his measurement, some not exceeding five lines in expanse.
2g^ [November,
Argyrolepia hadiana, Hiibn. — Wilkinson is in error in saying that this species is to be found wbcreever tbe burdock (Arctmm lappa) grows. It is, in fact, rather local, though common, where it occurs. I never could meet with a specimen in either the Haslemere or tho Norwich districts, although burdock is reasonably common in both neighbourhoods ; and Mr. Doubleday tells me that this is the case also at Epping Forest. On the other hand, Mr. Stainton once met with about five hundred specimens in one locality.
Argyrolepia cnicana, Dbld. — Dr. Wocke sinks this species (with doubt) into a variety of hadiana, and the same opinion has been ex- pressed by Prof. Zeller, under the impression that both forms are to be found flying together. This is not the case in this country, cnicana being apparently confined to damp localities, and generally found among thistles. Its characteristic form and markings are very con- stant, and I have no doubt that it is truly distinct. It seems to be widely distributed, as I have found it rather commonly near Haslemere, Surrey, and more rarely near Dublin and in the Norfolk fens, while specimens have been sent me from Cumberland, Yorkshire, &c.
I find that some years ago Mr. Doubleday sent specimens of both species to the late Ilerr Lederer, who then became convinced of their distinctness, not having previously seen the true hadiana.
Arrjijrolepia Duhrisann, Curt. — Corrected by Dr. AV^ockc, and also by Mr. Doubleday in the Supplement to his List, to zepl/yrana, Tr. ; and this Prof. Zeller confirms.
An/j/rolejna maritlmana, Cru., Wilk. — Professor Zeller assures mc that this is only a large, dark variety of zepliyrana, Tr., and much like the variety called margaritana by Herrich-SchJiffer. To this opinion, in the absence of counter evidence, it seems advisable to submit, par- ticularly as zephyrana is certainly a most variable species both in size and in the presence or absence of dai'k grey scales. In maritimana these scales are so abundant as to give it a strikingly distinct appear- ance at first sight, but there appears to be no reliable character. Dr. "Wocke records six varieties of zephyrana, placing this form last.
Calosetia nigrimaculana, Haw. — Placed by Dr. AVocke in his genus Stcganoptyclia, hetwccn pauperana and ramclla, and far away from the present family, with which it ill assorts.
(To he continued.)
18741 135
Agahus maculaitis. — The mention of this spceios in my notice last month, on Coleoptera occurring in Shethmd, was due to an accidental error. The specimens on which it was founded were taken near Braemar. — T. Elackbukn, Grcenhithe : Ocloher, 1871s
Isote on the occurrence in England of JTelophorns tuherciilatiis, Gyll. — Of this insect, tlie most remarkable European member of its genus, I have observed two specimens (taken in Sphagnum in tlie Slanchester district) among some insects sent to me for names by Mr. Joseph ChappcU of Ilulmc. The species is of the average size of H. nubilus, and at once recognisable by its deep black colour and the con- spicuous polished tubercular elevations on the second, fourth, and sixth interstices of its uneven elytra. Some of these elevations arc oblong, but the majority (in one specimen the whole) arc rounded blimt tubercles, thus exhibiting a slight variation from the type in which all are " aliquot oblongis." The insect oceiu's in Lapland, Sweden, and Xorth Russia, and is also recorded by Zebe from Prussia. — E. C. Kte, Tarklleld, Putney, S.W. : Octoher, 1874,
On imported Coleoptera. — I have this year kept a good look out for beetles asnongst the timber imported here (see "Entomologists' Annual" for 1874, p. 55), and have found Astgnomus cedilis and T/tauasimus form icarius again pretty common, but not nearly so abundant as last year. All the larva) of cedilis I have seen (some hundred) were feeding on the inner skin of the bark, and not on the timber ; but tliey scooped out a place in which to pupate. I have also taken eight Monoliammtis sutor and five Pogonocherus fasciculatus on pit props imported from Sweden, and several of llylohius ahietis and Pissodes notalus, which I judge were bred in timber imported from France, and part of wliich is still stored on the quay.
I have noticed communications of the capture of M. sutor at various places inland, but this does not surprise me in the least, seeing that in nearly every instance the recorded localities arc collieries, or very near collieries. Now, nearly every colliery is suppHcd with foreign pit props and timber, and when this is taken into consideration, one has not very far to look for the reason of swior being captured in such a locality. There are hundreds of tons of timber and props sent from hero weekly to collieries in Yorksliire and Lancashire, every inch of which is from foreign ports.
Apropos of Longicoms, I am much astonished at a recent assertion by a supposed atithority, that these beetles only attack living, healthy trees, for I got some scores of Jlhagium bifasciatum in Teesdale last spring out of tree trunks so rotten that I could liavc kicked a whole tree tnnik down with my foot (I mean those trunk.s which had been blown ofE by tlie wind five or six feet from the bottom, of which there wore plenty in the wood in which I was collecting). I never saw timber so rotten ; it was literally dropping to pieces, and I could put my pocket knife into the trunk up to tlie haft. — J. Garuneh, 8, Friar Terrace, Hartlepool : September, 1871.
Observations on a viciparons Chrgsomela. — Last year I collected some examples of Chrgsomela venusta, among which were females with the abdomen much enlarged; these I placed, living, in a box. Wliat was my surprise upon finding, next day, young larva; eating the leaves of Uelosciadium nodijlorum tliut I had placed with
X3G [November,
the insects, which latter I had fouud upon this plant which grows in marshy places. I was much astonished at the circumstance, and, wishing to verify the facts, I returned several days afterwards to again take the females, but did not find any, and, to my great regret, was obliged to defer my observations to this year. Already I had the thought that the insects were really viviparous, and from the time of their appear- ance set to work to find females in order to study them attentively.
I found two on the Slst of May in a very satisfactory condition for observation. Upon returning home I placed them in a suitable bottle, and next day was able to convince myself that they were really viviparous, for they laid no eggs, but gave direct birth to larvae already rather large. I remarked that all were deposited in the same position, the abdomen appearing first, attached by an appendage of the last segment, that serves for locomotion during an early age, either to a leaf of the plant or on the glass of the bottle. The larvse remained in this position for a minute without moving, their colour being that of a gummy substance. At the end of this time they commenced to colour and to become agitated : after ten minutes they were completely brown, and were already feeding upon the plant I had placed with them.
They changed their. skin for the first time on the fifth or sixth day, a second time on the twelfth ; on the sixteenth to eighteenth they had gone into the earth, and I have seen nothing of them since.
I do not know that this fact has been recorded, and think even that viviparous generation has only been noticed in the two Brazilian StaphyVmidce mentioned by M. Schiodte. — L. Bleuze, in the " Petites NouveUes Eutomologiques " for October 1st, 1874.
Note on the existence of strididating organs in the genus Lomaptera. — While examining some specimens of the genu's Lomaptera, I have ascertained the existence of some powerful stridulating organs in some of the species of the genus. If a specimen of Lomaptera Latreillei be examined, there will be fouud at the side of the second abdominal segment, close to the edge of the elytra, a slightly raised space thickly set with fine slightly-curved lines like a file, these lines being continued along the hinder margin of the segment for some distance ; and a similar structure will be noted on the following tliii'd segment ; and if the femur be examined, its inner surface will be found to be entu-ely covered with coarser and less regular Unes. That these lines afford a means of making a noise is at once pretty clear, and is very easily demonstrated by seizing the hind tibia with a pair of forceps, and by its assis- tance moving the femur backwards and forwards with a slight pressure so as to make it grate against the abdominal surface, when a loud creaking or stridulation is produced.
This power is not confined to either sex ; but, on the other hand, it is confined to one group of species of the genus, viz., the large oblong and but sUghtly convex species, in which the color is only slightly metallic ; and among these species it will afford some valuable means of distinguishing the species ; thus, in the Lomaptera fasciata of Burmeister, which inhabits the island of Waigiou, there is on the fourth abdominal segment an impci'fect additional file, of which there is no trace in the L. livittata of Q-ory, which inhabits New Guinea ; these two species being now con- sidered as only one (I think, erroneously). In the peculiar species L. plana, the inner surface of the femur is very rugose, but the raised abdominal files are absent,
1871.] 137
and there is only a comparativoly imperfect series of tlio lines on the tliird abdominal segment, with some still more imperfect litnes on the second and fourth segments, and the stridiUating power of the species is comparatively slight. In some of the metallic species (with the peculiar developed pygidium) the inner surface of the femur is finely and densely rugose, but there is no stridulation produced by its friction against the abdomen ; and in some of the red-legged species the inner surface of the femur is nearly smooth.
In the L. nigrita group there is no stridulating power.
So far as I am aware, stridulating power arising from friction of the extremity of the femur against the sides of the abdomen has not yet been indicated in tlio order Coleoptera.
Among the Lamellicorns there are many varieties of stridulating by peculiar apparatus arranged for the purpose, so that one is inclined to believe that the power of making a creaking noise is of some value to the species possessing it. Whether it is of use by making some enemy who has seized an individual abandon it from fright or surprise, ouly direct observation can show; but, judging from the loud noise produced in L. Latreillei on the dead specimen, I can well suppose that dm'ing life, when the noise is probably louder from the more perfect adaptation of the parts to one another, the sound produced may be really of use in this way. — D. Sharp, ThonihUl : August llth, 1874.
Note on Aulacoihorax exilis, Boheman. — In the "Eiigenies Resa," Boheman has described and figured (p. 35, pi. 1, fig. 1) a small Coleopterous insect from Taliiti under this name. The insect is placed by him, without any indication of doubt, in the family ScydmcBiiidcB ; but the figure of the species, and a magnified representation of its leg, point it out as belonging to the Tetranierous series of Coleoptera, the tarsi bewaring the characteristic structure of that group. I should suppose it to be probably an Anthribid, alhed to Choragus or Xenorchestes ; but possibly it may bo a Brucliid, aUied to Urodon. The generic description throws no light on the insect, for the charaetei-a given can scarcely be considered generic,' most of them, indeed, being reiterated word for word in the specific description. As the genus is ranged in tlio ScydmmnidcE in von Ilarold's catalogue of Coleoptera, I suppose that Eoheman's error has not yet been recognized, so I have thought it well to call attention to it. — lu. : 29<A September, 1871.
On the mode of stridulation of Coranus sulapierus, De Oeer. — In the Mittheil. d. schweiz. ent. Gesells., iv, p. 159, Herr O. M. Renter lias a note on this subject, the result of his recent observations. He says that the stridulation, which was first noticed by De Geer, is not caused in the manner in which Westwood, after Gourean, states that it is made in some species of Reduviidce, especially Peirates stridulus, namely, by tlic friction of the neck within the prothoracic cavity ; but tliat although Coranus, when it begins to stridulate, inclines its head up and down so that the neck moves to and fro in the pronotum.yet it is not by this means tlio sound is produced. The insect moves the extreme point of its rostrum up and down the longitudinal channel of the presternum, and only then the sound comes forth ; when the rostrum was removed the stridulation ceased. Viewed under the microscope, the channel of the prosternum was seen to be vei-y finely and closely striated transversely, and had
2 38 I Ndvembcr,
nil the conditions of stridulation of a yiolin, the rostrum working as a violin bow. lien- Renter adds it is likely that other species of Reduviidce stridulate besides those hitherto noticed, and that it is probable the soiiud is caused in all by- means like those in Coranus. — J. W. Doitglas, Lee : September Ith, 187i'.
On the resemhiance to ants among the Hemiptera. — In the same volume, p. 15G, Herr Reuter has some remarks on the resemblance of certain Hemiptera to ants, especially referring to the apterous females of Systellonotus triguttatus, L., which sex only is extremely like the workers of Formica fusca, the males being furnished with ample wings. When the " British Hemiptera " was in preparation, females were not accessible for description, but I caught some in time to put a figure on plate 12, and, in the 2nd volume of this Magazine, p. 30, I gave an account of their capture in the galleries of Formica fusca. Of the nature of the food of this species nothing appears to be known. The Capsina are believed to be all phytophagous, but in the present species the inquiline habitat and the imitation of the ants in structure and agility, both by the adult female and the early forms (Herr Renter seems to think that the last is so in both sexes), seems to point to the food being either the ants themselves — larvae or pupa) probably — or to some nourish- ment brought by the ants into their nest. I have (I. c.) suggested the former, and hoped that the matter would ere this have been elucidated by some Hymenopterist, but it still requires an investigator.
Herr Renter also remarks on the similarity to ants of both sexes of Diplacus alho-ornatus Still., and Myrmecoris gracilis, Sahib. Both are very rare, and Herr Router suggests that by analogy they should bo sought for in ants' nests. The latter species he once found near to a nest of Formica rufa. Both have yet to be found in Britain.
Camaronotus cinnamopterus, which in both sexes is very like a small Formica rufa, as noticed in the " British Hemiptera," p. 359, is constantly found on trees, &c., in company with that ant.
Myrmedohia coleoptrata, Fall., was found on a bank at Highgate, in company with small black ants, but not in their nests. Neither sex is like an ant, and the apterous female resembles the Coleopterous Alexia pilifera, which was found at the same time and place. But, as Herr TicfPenbach found the bugs i7i the ants' nests, it is certain that this want of similarity is no bar to the safety of the lodgers. — Id.
f The British species of Chrysopa examined with regard to their powers of emitting
had odours.- — -The beautiful ' lace wing ' or ' golden eye ' insects foi-ming this genus have, from the days of tlio earliest naturalists, laboured under the stigma of emitting disgusting odours, and have thus acquired the popular name of ' stink-flies.' Upon the principle that one or two notoriously bad characters in a community give a bad name to the whole, many persons unjustly condemn all 'golden eyes' individually and specifically, and I have often been surpi-ised to find how deep-rooted is the belief in their universally noxious habits even among observant field entomologists. Several writers on the genus (including myself) have frequently pointed out that it is only some few species that have the power of emitting these odours when handled. Durhig this summer I determined to test this subject with regard to our native species. Of the genus, as it now stands, wo have twelve species, and I have examined
1374.] 130
living examples, during the setison, often of these, carefully applying each iiulividunl to uiy nose as eooii as caught ; and probably nearly one hundred specimens have passed under this ordeal. The result is that in no one instance did any individual of C.Jlava, alba, flavifrons y tenell a, aspersa, or veniraUs, e\mt any appreciable odour; and I think C. vittata must be placed in the same category, although I have not this season had living examples before me. C. vulgaris I regard as 'suspected,' but the odour is uncertain, and, if present, almost inappreciable. C. perla andpfii/Uochroma emitted a considerable amount of bad odour (and I think C. albreviata does the same). C. septempunctafa was, as usual, intensely disgusting, and I believe it is this species in particidar that has acquired for the whole genus a bad name, and more especially because it is a garden insect, and thus comes more frequently under notice. The two exceedingly rare species of Nolhochrt/sa (capifata and falvicepsj have not been tested, and, indeed, have never been seen alive by me (excepting one example of capitataj, but I believe they are as inodorous as are the majority of species of Chrysopa. The moral to be drawn from this is : — don't condemn a whole flock because there happen to be a few ' black sheep ' in it. — R. McLachlan, Lewisham : Atijust, 1874.
Abnormal appearance of Noctuaf estiva. — Some ova of Noctua f estiva, laid at Rannoch at the end of last Jidy, hatched in August, and the larva), feeding up very rapidly on Folygomim aviculare, began to change to pupse about the 18th September. The first moth appeared on tlie 3rd October. This, for a hybeniator (in the larva- state) is a pretty rapid transition.
I also obtained ova of Aplecta occulta at the same time, and have now a number of pupa;, the first larva; having entered the pupa state on the 21st September. My friend Mr. Geo. Norman has, I believe, already recorded that he induced this insect to dispense with its accustomed hybernation.
Neither of the above species has been expo.scd, either as larva or pupa, to a liighcr temperature than the ordbiary one of a room looking north, and without a fire. — J. B. BLACKBrRN, Grassmeade, Southfields, Wandsworth, S.W. : October \Uh, 1874.
On the food-plant, ^'c, of Lygris reticulata. — This moth (known to the fol- lowers of Guende's arrangement as Cidaria reticulata, though Staudiuger widely separjites it from C. silaceata, which it generally resembles) was discovered some ten years back in the English Lake District, but has always remained one of our greatest rarities. Freyer, in Germany, had discovered the larva feeding upon Impa- tien.i noli-me-tanyere, and it is a significant fact that the Lake District is the chief locality for this rare plant in Britain. In the Stett. ent. Zcitung, 187 I, pi>. 237— 2 10, Pastor Fuchs has a long and interesting paper on its habits. He finds the imago in Prussia, in places where the Impatiens grows, from the end ui' Jid\ to th(> miildle of August. The quite young larva) were observed towards the middle of October, and they would appear to feed up very rapidly. The larvro much resemble the unripe seed-capsides of the plant and feed upon them, though chiclly on the leaves, hiding themselves in the dead leaves during simshine. But lie does not appear to have been fortunate, for his pupro died shortly before the time of emergence of the imago. These hints may enable some of our northern Lepidopterisls to find the insect nion'
240 [November,
plentifully, and to breed it from the larvfc. It is somewliat curious tliat, feeding also on the Impatiens at the same place, Pastor Fuclis found the larvae of balsam- inata, which Guenee considers only a var. of silaceata, and which precedes tliat species in Staudinger's catalogue. Wlien the larra of reticulata really becomes known in this country, southern entomologists will no doubt try it with Impatiens fulva, now becoming so common on the banks of the tributaries of the Thames ; and perhaps it might not even refuse garden balsam. — Eds.
Emmelesia ttnifasciata three years in the pupa state. — In September, 1871, I collected a considerable quantity of the larvse of JEmmelesia unlfasciata off Barlsia odontites. A few of the moths made their appearance in 1872, the greater number ajipearcd in 1873, and the remainder, eight or ten specimens, emerged tliis season, having been three years in the pupa state. — A. H. Jones, Shrublauds, Eltham : S^A October, 1874.
6bitu;trn.
Francis Walker. More than twenty years too late for his scientific reputation, and after having done an amount of injury to entomology almost inconceivable in its immensity, Francis Walker has passed from among us. More than forty years ago, he became prominently known as an entomologist through his monograph of the minute parasitic insects of the family Chalcididce. This was originally published in the old ' Entomological Magazine ' with which Walker was closely connected.
Whatever shortcomings time may have proved to exist in that monograph, it marked an era in the study of its subject, and, as coming from the brain and pen of quite a young man, gave reasonable promise of a brilliant future. And its author never seemed to have forgotten his first love : he continued to pub- lish on the grovip, and almost his latest productions, written at a time when his entomological reputation was worn to shreds, were on the Chalcididce. Next to these insects, the Diptera and Aphididcs seem at one time to have engaged hij special attention ; and he was the nominal author of the three volumes on Diptera fonning part of the ' Insccta Britannica ' scries, though the universal verdict of Dipterists accords most of the merit of this work to the part actually written by Haliday.
This latter publication brings us to the commencement of the second half of the present century, about which time Walker, in an unlucky moment, was induced to commence the series of British Museum Catalogues, that, associated with his name, have become objects of dei'ision to all conscientious entomologists. As time wore on, volume after volume of these Catalogues appeared in a continuous stream, and almost on every order of insects, Coleoptera excepted (coleopterists have probably had their share of Walkers under other names). As compilations they are remarkable proofs, not only of the plodding industry, but also of the great amount of biblio- graphical research exhibited in them ; and had Walker been content to leave them as compilations, they would have been regarded as blessings by all. But, essay- ing to do that which is beyond the power of any individual, he set to work to ' describe ' in all orders, and multitudes of both generic and specific names are attributable to him. The result was what might have been expected. The work was done mechanically : ' New genera and species ' were erected in the most reckless manner, and instances are on record in which individuals of one and the same species have been proved to have been made by liim to do duty luulcr several generic (and
1874 141
more specific) names. Tlie incvitfible coiisoqnences soon followed. The author, and the authorities of the British Museum who permitted the scandal, came under tho lash of such criticism as has happily seldom been directed against scientific men. Tliis criticism had no other effect than (apparently) to increase the evil. Walker, by nature, appeared to be utterly indifferent to anything that could be hurled at him, and the only apparent answer on the part of the ruling power at the Museum was the commencement of Catalogues of hitherto unassailed gi-oups or orders. With no courage to resist such commands, the duties were accomplished, each part meeting the like yerdicfc at the bar of scientific opinion as its predecessor ; though we heartily believe that Walker was inwardly conscious of his inability to perform the tasks imposed upon him.
The evil did not stop here. Possessors of rich private collections who desired names for their insects, and travellers wishing to have Natural History appendices to the narrations of their adventures, naturally thought there could be no better authority than the semi-official compiler of Catalogues for the chief entomological collection in the world ; and Walker was probably never known to decline any request from such quarters, so that, eventually, he may be said to have become a, mere desorihing machine ; and, not content with inflicting upon entomoi ,^j the damage caused by his Catalogues, the pages of every available medium were filled with his lucubrations. To their honour, be it said, tlie Linnean and Entomological Societies long ago declined to publish some of his papei's, so that the evil was somewhat mitigated, and of late his publications were few, outside the Catalogues. With regard to these latter, and much of his later work, he had not even the excuse of pecuniary need, for we believe his circmnstances were such as to place him beyond the suspicion of being influenced in this way.
We earnestly hope that never again will it fall to us, nor to our successors in entomological journalism, to have to write such an obituary notice as this. That the motto, ' De mortnis nil nisi bonum,' will be directed against us we fully expect ; and we answer before-hand that we have only judged AValker as an entomologist. In his social relations he was amiability itself, and probably there arc few men who have lived to the age of 65 (his age at the time of his death), and made so few enemies. Even those who felt most keenly the disrepute into which he brought the entomo- logical section of our great Natural llistory Museum, will miss with i-egret his courteous salutation and simplicity of manner.
Mr. Walker died at his residence. Elm Hall, Wanstcad, Essex, on the 5th of October, after what must have been a short illnc.'<s. lie was, wo believe, of Scotch descent, and of an originally quaker family. Ho leaves one son, a clergyman (known as a collector of exotic butterflies), and several daughters.
William Leila. Tliis gentleman was born in Shropshire, but at an early ago settled in Liverpool, wiiere, until his death, he was engaged in very active commcix'ial pursuits, liis short leisure being entirely devoted to the study of entomology and its liandmaiden botany, often leaving himself without that rest aiul earo (or health which are necessary for a continuance of successful study. Although of strong constitution, possibly to this cause may, in a great measure, be traced the source of a very rapid illness which proved fatal, somewhat suddenly, on tho 19th September la.Ht, at the age of 41 years. Being of reserved temperament, he never courted a large acquaintance, but those wiio knew him fully appreciated his active, generous, and undenionstral ive friendship. Ho leaves a very considerable collection of Lepidop- /' ra, fornifd uiitler dilficidlics which wuidd have daiiiilcd many. — [J. T. C]
1 j,2 (Nijvcmbcr,
BEITISn ifJS-M/Pr^iZ.l— ADDITIONAL SPECIES. BY J. W. DOUGLAS. (continued from page 12.J
Salda jiarginella. Salda margiiiella, Fieb., Eur. Ilem., 145, 8 (18G1), nee H.-S., nee S. marginalis, Fall, (vide S. opaeula, Zett. p. 9, ante).
Oval, black, with short decumbent black hairs, aud slight golden pubescence. Antennce black, first joint on the base, apex aud under- side, and the second before the apex, ochreous or testaceous. Prono- tum : sides slightly rounded. Elytra: anterior margin, except the base aud apex, ochreous, with a short interruption beyond the middle, disc with ocellus, streaks and spots similar to 8. saltatoria.
Head: face clothed with fine golden pubescence; clypeus : margin incrassated, ochreous. Antennce black, finely haired ; first joint ochreous on the base, apex, and urder-side ; second, ochreous or testaceous before the apex.
Thorax — pronotum short, sides slightly rounded, flattened, anterior callus ■with a single fovea, bordered before and behind ■vrith a row of punctures. ScuteUitm with a large, posteriorly abrupt fovea, surface crenulate, more strongly behind the fovea. Elytra — clavus with a posterior, triangular, whitish spot ; corium : margin black on the basal fourth and the ajiex, otherwise ochreous, the sub- linear colouring widest posteriorly, wholly, or very nearly quite interrupted beyond the middle by a slight jutting out of the black ground colour, so that there appears to be a long, pale, marginal line, followed by a shorter one ; inside the latter, and all but joined to it, is a round, whitish spot, and usually two other smaller ones in a line with it nearer the base ; middle nerve black, bor- dei-ed posteriorly on each side by an ochreous line, the outer one curved into the apical black spot ; the usual ocellus near the base small, but distinct ; the inner posterior angle with two or tlireo very small ochreous spots ; the posterior margin narrowly black ; membrane ochreous, at the base more or less with cloudy, blackish spots, the nerves and a long spot in each cell black, the marginal area ochreous, broadly bordered with fuscous, and with a long black spot exterior to the outer cell. Legs testaceous ; thighs with a black line beneath, inner-side with brown spots ; tihice : outwardly with a black line from the base, short on the third pair, apex of all with a black spot.
Abdomen : beneath clothed with blackish hairs, the posterior margin of the segments narrowly whitish. Length Ij line.
Yery close to S. saltatoria, L., from which it is jiriiiui facie distinguished by the first marginal streak of the elytra being the longest, and by a certain softness of the markings which is difficult to express in words. I have an example named for me, by Dr. Fieber which answers very well to his description in the " Europaischen lleuiiptcra," but not to llerrich-.Schaffer's dcf^criptiou or figure of
1874. J 143
»S^. marginnlis (margincUa), which are quoted by Fichcr. Of tho difference of the littter, Fieber seems to have become aware, as, after tlio publication o£ his work, lie wrote on the ticket of my specimen, " S. marginella, Fieb., Eur. Hem., nee Il.-Schff." Thoms. Opusc. iv, 407, 13, quotes *S^. mnr(jineUa, Fieb.,=AS'. opacula, Zett., but, as above noted, thit) is not correct.
Hitherto rare ; I hare two examples which I took at Deal, in August, 1863.
Salda rrcicoLA.
Sahla fueicoJa, J. Sahib., Not. Fenn., li, 301 (1870).
Shoi't-oval, black, dull ; densely clothed with golden pubescence. Anfennce black, 1st joint testaceous inwardly, 2nd fulvous on tho apical third. Pi-onotum short, sub-trapezoidal, anterior callus long. Wi/tra — elaviis with a sub-apical spot. Corium : anterior margin in the middle with a long linear vitta, followed by a shorter one which does not reach tho apex, and is frequently confluent with the lowest of three spots in a line next the marginal area, the disc otherwise marked as in S. saltatoria, L., but more distinctly ; all the markings pale ochreous. Membrane pale ochreous, base (except two pale spots), nerves, and a long spot in each cell, black. Le^s pale testaceous.
Head — clypeus : anterior margin narrowly incrassated, oclireous. Face ochreous or testaceous. Rostrum piceous. Antennee : Ist joint testaceous, exteriorly with a black line ; 2ncl about twice the length of the let, mostly fulvous on tho apical third.
Thorax — pronotum short, sub-trapozoidal, faintly punctate, sides anteriorly slightly rounded, flattened, the margin slightly rcflexcd, anterior callus occupying more than half the length, with one central fovea. Sctitellum large, with a slight, transverse, median depression. Elytra — clavus with a sub-apical, elongate, ochreous spot. Corium : anterior margin at the base rellexed, in the middle a long linear vitta, followed by a shorter one which does not quite reach the apox ; next to the vitta and exterior to tho median nerve are three spots in a longitu- dinal scries, tho posterior one sometimes confluent with the lower marginal vitta ; within tho median nerve, towards tho base, is tho usual ocellus faintly defined except at its base ; the black median nerve posteriorly, on the outer side, usually with a fine line, and on the inner side one shorter, broader, curved or sinuate ; on tho inner angle of tho corium three or four small elongate spots more or less distinct (sometimes obliterated) ; all the markings pale ochreous, the three sub- marginal spots palest. Membrane palo ochreous, base black, with an ochreous spot in each of tho two inner cells ; nerves, and a long spot or streak (va^jying in width) in each cell, block ; marginal area palo fuscous, below tho outer cell a Bub-quadraiigidar black spot, the anterior cuneiform space and a posterior spot
J^44 [November, 1874.
pale ochrooiis. Legs pale tostapoons, anlcrior coxal slicaths marf^incd with whitish ; thighs with a fine black line beneath ; on the sides a row of small piceous punctures ; tibicB with fine, short, black spines, base and apex naiTowly black ; tarsi with apex of 3rd joint black.
Abdomen black, under-side with pale golden pubeseence, the posterior margin of the segments narrowly (the last one more broadly) whitish.
Length \\ — IJ line.
Tliis species, which appears to be good and distinct, has doubtless been confounded with 8. saltatoria, to which it has near affinity. It may be distinguished from it by its somewhat broader form, by the colour not being so deep a black, by the greater density of the pilosity, by the first marginal yitta of the elytra being long, and by the greater size and distinctness of the markings.
Dr. Sahlbcrg found his examples under sea-weed on the shores of the White Sea. I have taken specimens on the coast at Folkestone, Deal, Isle of Wight, and Stevenston, and also at inland localities.
BRITISH nEMlPTERA—Al>T>lT101<iXL SPECIES. BY J. W. BOUGLAS AND JOHN SCOTT.
CAPSINA.
FRTTOGOBIDJE.
Phttocoris riNi.
Phytocoris pint, Kirschb., Caps., 40, 21 and 123, 3 (1855) ; Fieb., Europ. Hem., 261, 11 (18G1).
Brownish or reddish-brown, clothed with semi-erect black hairs, thickly intermixed with depressed white ones. Head with three or four transverse reddish or dusky-red streaks. Antennce : 1st joint as long as the pronotum ; 2nd, twice as long as the 1st ; 3rd, about three-fourths the length of the 2nd ; 4th, two-thii-ds the length of the 3rd. Pronotum with a velvety-black, more or less interrupted, line on or just within the posterior margin. Scutellum with a dai-k brown or black longitudinal streak on each side of the centre. Elytra brownish or reddish-brown, or more or less grey coloured and spotted with dark brown or blackish-grey. Legs dark fuscous-broAVTi or black ; thighs spotted longitudinally with white, 3rd pair with a more or less broad, transverse, white band on the inside before the apex ; tibicB dark fuscous-brown or black, with two narrow whitish or yellowish-white rings, — on the Ist and Brd pairs two, on the 2nd three.
December, 1874] 145
Head brownish or pale reddish-brown. Crown next the proiiotum frequently dark brown, and divided in the centre by a short longitudinal line ; next the anterior margin two dusky-red transverse streaks. Face : side lobes with two dusky-red transvere streaks, the intermediate spaces more or less whitish ; apex of the central lobe generally pale. AntenncB dark brown or fuscous ; Ist joint as long as the pronotum, longitudinally spotted with white, and with longish, erect, somewhat remote, black hairs ; 2ud and 3rd narrowly white at the base, the former with a more or less distinct pale band Just beyond the middle. Rostrum pale reddish, apex black.
Thorax — pronotum greyish-brovrn, frequently somewhat reddish in front ; lateral margins with long black hairs, especially next the anterior angles ; just within the pale posterior margin is a more or less interrupted velvety-black line ; cal- losities in front generally darker than the disc. Seidell um brownish or greyish- brown, with a more or less distinct dark brown or black streak on each side of the centre, diverging posteriorly, central line narrow, frequently whitish ; apex broadly whitish ; basal angles dark brown. Elytra brownish or reddish-brown, or more or less gi'cy colom-ed, and moi'e or less spotted with dark brown or blackish-grey, generally most distinctly next the anterior margin ; the trapezoidal patch at the apex of the inferior margin paler than the disc, its inner margin next the cells with a black clavate line not reaching to the lower angle. Cuneus brownish or greyish-brown, sometimes with a faint reddish tinge ; exterior basal angle nan-owly pale ; apex, and a more or less interrupted line on the inner margin, black. Membrane fuscous, with a distinct white almost round spot at the apex of the elavus ; disc more or less thickly covered with confused, short white streaks and spots ; cell nerves dark, lower margin of the great cell-nerve white. Leffs dark fuscous-brown or black. Thighs : 1st and 2nd pairs spotted longitudinally with white, the spots of irregular size ; 8rd irregularly spotted with white, and with a more or less broad, transverse, white band, placed obliquely before the apex. Tibice dark fuscous-brown or black ; 1st and 3rd pairs with two whitish or yellowish-white rings placed one before and one beyond the middle, those on the 3rd broader than those on the 1st, and with a few black punctures on the outside, in which are placed some of the brown spinose hairs ; 2nd pair with three whitish or yellowish-white rings, two placed somewhat as in the other pairs, the third at the apex. I'arsi brown, Ist joint generally, apex of the 3rd and claws darkest.
Abdomen underneath dark fuscous-brown or black. Length 2 J lines, barely.
This species belongs to llie group in wliich arc divergens, ulmi, populi, and ditnidiatus, sometimes agreeing to a great extent iu colour and markings ^villl one and sometimes \\'\\\i another of these species. It is, however, to be identified from all of them by the shortness of the let joint of the antennae. In JP.jji^u it is only as long as the pronoliuii, whereas in the others it is longer.
Taken by Ur. F. Buchanan White on pine trees at Braomar.
14^ [December,
LIT0S03III>^.
ALLOCOTUS (Keb. M.S.), Puton.
Ann. Soc. Eut. Fr., 5 ser., iv, p. 218 (1874).
(^ . Slightly elongate, sides almost parallel.
? . Ovate.
Head obtusely triangular in front. Croiv7i short. Face almost perpendicular ; central lobe projecting beyond the side lobes. JEi/es large, their outer margin projecting beyond the sides of the pronotum, Antenncd : 1st joint stoutest, projecting for at least half its length before the face ; 2nd slightly clavate, three and a quarter times the length of the 1st ; 3rd almost thi*ee-quarters the length of the 2nd ; 4th half the length of the 3rd. Rostrum reaching to the base of the 1st abdominal segment.
Thorax — pronotum short, trapeziform, anterior margin straight ; lateral margins slightly convex, widened posteriorly ; posterior margin straight across the scutellum, then slightly rounded to the hinder angles. Elytra in the ^ longer than the abdomen. Wings without a hook in the cell. Legs moderately long; thighs, 3rd pair stout; tihice : 3rd pair slightly concave a little below the base ; tarsi : 1st joint shortest, 2nd twice the length of the 1st, 3rd about equal to the 2ud.
Allocotus etjbidus (Ficb. M.S.), Puton.
Ann. Soc. Ent. Fr., 5 ser., iv, p. 219, pi. vii, fig. 2 (1874).
Pink or brownish-pink, clothed vdili semi-erect black hairs inter- mixed with decumbent, shining, whitish ones. Elytra with minute red punctures in which the black hairs are set ; cuneus ( (J ) orange- red, clothed with semi-erect black hairs ; membrane of the $ slightly abbreviated.
S ■ Head after deatli lurid ; in fi'ont obtusely triangular. Crown convex, "with an indistinct transverse channel near the base ; distance betvreen the inner margin of the eyes scarcely bo great as tlic length of the head. Eyes large, pink or brown. AntenncB brownish-yellow. Hostnim yellow ; apical half of the last joint black.
Thorax — -pronottim pink or brownish-pink ; callosities not prominent, bounded pos- teriorly by a faint transverse channel ; disc flat-convex. Scutellum triangular, almost equilateral, flattish-convcx, and with the usual transverse channel near the base. "Elytra pink or bro-miish-pink clothed with semi-erect black liaii's set in minute red punctures, and intermixed with decumbent, shining, whitish ones ; clavus, after death, frequently somewhat fuscous ; cuneus longish, orange- red, clothed with semi-erect black hairs ; membrane fuscous, iridescent ; cell
1874.J ^47
nerves red, after death brownish. Legs brownish-pink, after death luteous ;
tihicB yellowish, with a few fine dark hairs down the outer margin ; tarsi yellow,
ajx?x of the 3rd joint and claws black. $ . Ovate. Sead more convex than in the (? , distance between the eyes about
equal to the length of the head ; transverse channel at the base distinct. Thorax — ^ronotum : callosities distinct, generally darker than the disc. Elytra
clothed as in the other sex. Membrane slightly paler than in the $ , and barely
reaching to the apex of the abdomen. Remaining characters as in the other sex.
(J , ? . Length 1^ line.
A\^e have also what we considered to be a green form of the fore- going insect, and in this idea we are borne out by Dr. Puton, who, however, had not, until the other day, seen an example. " Curiously "enough," as he observes in a letter, the original captor (in Erance), " M. Bellevoye, of Metz, arrived at the same time as your box, and " brought with him a green example." "We subjoin a short diagnosis :
Yar. MoxcEEAFFi.
Qreen in both sexes and clothed as in A. rubidtis. Head yellow ; pronotum in front yellow, more or Jess broadly green posteriorly. Scutellum yellow. JElytra — corium green, clothed as in rubidtts, but with minute green punctures, in which the black hairs are set ; in the (J , cuneus paler than the corium. Membrane pale fuscous, iridescent; cell-ncrvcs yellowish or brownish-yellow. All the other cliaracters as in A. rubidtis. We have also one fuscous-black example, S ■
Taken at Lumps' Pond, Portsmouth, by Mr. II. Moncrcaff, upon or under Salicornia radicans (creeping, jointed glass-wort), from August up to the middle of October. ANTo have named this variety, if variety it be, after its captor, who has added to our fauna so many good things from his locality.
(To be contintiedj.
ON CERTAIN BRITISH HEMIPTERA-UOMOFTERA.
BY JOHN SCOTT.
(continued J'rom Fb^ x, 2^. 242.)
DORATUHA, J. Sahlberg.
This genus was founded by the above author, in 1871, for the reception of the only two known European species which had been doing duty in genera with which they have but little in common. Only one of these species is as yet known to bo British, but I believe the other wall be found in Scotland, if not in England also, as its capture is recorded by Flor, Kirschbaum, Thomson, and J. Sahlberg.
lis [Decumbor,
Species 1. — Doeatura sttlata, Boh.
Athysanus stylatus, Boh., Handl., p. 31 (1847) ; Kirschb., Athys.-Art.,
14, 18 (1858). Jasstis (Athysanus) stylatus, Flor, Ehyn. Livl., ii, 273, 1 (1861) ;
Marshall, Ent. Mo. Mag., iii, 10, 15 (18GG) ; Kirschb., Cicad.,
123, 1 (L868). Jassus stylatus, Thomson, Opusc. Ent., i, 58, 27 (1870). Doratura stylata, J. Sahib., Not. Fenn., part 12, 292, 1 (1871).
Undeveloped form. $ . In life, greenish-grey, changing, after death, to pale fuscous-yellow. Head somewhat deltoid, flattened above, and with a distinct transverse channel in front ; sides arcuate ; apex slightly raised ; posterior margin concave. Elytra very short, only covering about one-third of the abdomen ; postei'ior margin rounded.
Head — croion with three black spots on the anterior margin, the central one, at the apex, almost square ; inner margin of the transrerse channel on each side of the centre with a dark browia or black, almost comma-shaped patch ; near the posterior margin one or sometimes two small black spots on each side of the centre. Face with two more or less irregtdar, transverse, black streaks, placed, one near the upper margin, the other in a line with the lower margin of the eyes. CJypeus : apex generally blackish.
Thorax — -pronotum with a deep fovea on each side of the centre, iu a line with which is a more or less distinct transverse blackish line, appearing as though shining through from beneath : posterior half finely wrinkled transversely. Scutellum yellowish or pale fuscous-yellow. Elytra very short, only covering about one- third of the abdomen, very finely rugulose, yellowish (after death) or pale fuscous-yellow ; claval suture frequently with a narrow, brownish line ; within the posterior margin and between the nerves, very narrowly brownish. Leg* yellow. Thighs : fu'st pair at the base broadly black, and with a ring or some- times only a spot, on each side before the apex, of the same colour ; second pair generally with two black rings, one near the base, and the other before the apex third, with a black longitudinal streak down the middle of the inside. TibicB inner margin of the first and second pairs generally \cvy narrowly blackish thii'd, broadly black internally, throughout their whole length ; spines on the anterior margin yellow, some of which are placed iu a small black fovea ; apex narrowly black. Tarsi yellow, apex of the first and second joints of the third pair black.
Abdomen above fuscous-yellow with a narrow yellowish dorsal line, frequently en- closed by a row of black spots ; sides witli two longitudinal rows of black spots ; beneath black, posterior margins of the segments, except the two last, which are broadly so, very narrowly yellow, sides of the segments with a large, triangular^ yellow spot ; last genital segment above and on the sides with a black spot.
Length, li line, bai-ely.
? . Head generally with five black spots on the anterior margin ; extremity of the ovipositor strongly stylate, projecting considerably beyond the last genital •segment. All the other characters nearly a^in the J . Length 2 lines.
1874.] 14.9
Not common. It has been taken by Mr. Douglas and myself at Dartford Heath, Seven Oaks, Boxbill, &c., in July and August, by sweeping.
Developed form, unknown to me.
Of the second species, Doratura homopliyla, Flor, not yet known
to occur in Britain, I may add, for assistance in leading to its identity,
that it is larger than D. sfylata, but of the same colour, and can, I
may say only, be separated by the differences in the genital segments
in both cases.
{To he continuedj.
DIAaNOSTIO CHARACTEES OF UNDESCRIBED C0SS0NID2E. BY T. VEBJv'ON WOLLASTON, M.A., F.L.S.
Family COSSONID^.
(Sub-Family Pentaetheides.)
Genus PENTABTRRUM.
Wollaston, Ann. Nat. Hist., xiv, 129 (1S54).
Pet^tabtiirum Sharpianum, n. sp.
P. angustiim, parallelo-sub-cylindincum, clcpressiusculum, svib-iiiticlum, rufo- piceum, clytris seusim pallidioribus ; capite valdc exserto, ociilis proraineutibus ; protlioracc (in <? subovali, scd in !)? paulo magis triaiigulari) alulaceo, dense efc sat profunde punctato, in ? teuuiter carinulato, sed in $ posticc in medio late longitu- dinaliter sub-impresso ; elytris pai'allelis,piceo-ferruginci8,punctato-striatis, interstitiis transvcrsira rugulosis ac minute uniseriatim punctulatis ; antcnnis pedibusque cras- siuseulis, pallide nifo-piceis ; tarsorum artieulo 3tio lato ct valde profunde bilobo.
Mas, rostro lafciore, pone medium gradatim angustato, alutaceo ct sat profunde punctato ; antcnnis mox ante medium ejus insertis.
Fern., rostro paulo longiorc, graeili, sub-cyliudrico, nitido ct miuutissime punc- tulato ; antcnnis circa medium ejus insertis.
Long. Corp. lin. 2i.
Habitat in Nova Zealandia, ab 'Auckland' a Dom.Lawson missuni. Ad dcscri- bcndum communicavit D. Sharp, cujus in lionorcm nomen trivialc dedi.
{Obs. — Species inter Pentarthra insignis corporo elongato angusto depi'cssiuscido minus nitido, scutello magno, pcdibus crassis, tarsorum artieulo 3tio lato et valdo profunde bilobo, necnon rostro secundum scxum conspicue divcrso. A P. loitgirostri, in NovA. ZcalaTidiA. degente, differt, inter alia, corporc longiore, angustiorc, magis parallclo, magis depresso, et minus nitido ; colore, prajscrtim in cljtris, pallidiore ; rostro dissimili, minus arcuato, et basi, mox pono oculos, hand a frontc stricturil diviso ; protlioracc densius scd minus grosse punctato ; necnon tarsisetiam latioribus. Formd angustatil parallclA. corporequo minus nitido etiam P. angustissimum, ex insulis Japonicis, aliquo modo simulat ; sed coi'porc majore, pallidiore, scutello multo magis conspicuo, tarsorum artieulo 3tio multo latiore ac magis bilobo, oculis magis prominontibus, necnon rostri etructuri toto crolo differt.)
150 [December,
The narrow, parallel outline, less Bhining surface, and rather diluted (or rufescent) hue of this elongate Pentarthrum (which is from New Zealand, and has been communicated by Dr. Sharp), in conjunction with the broad and deeply bilobed third joint of its feet and the great sexual dissimilarity in its rostrum (which in the female sex ia long, polished, and acicular, but in the male comparatively broad and sculptured, though gradually and conspicuously rounded inwards, or attenuated, behind the middle), will at once separate it from every other species which has hitherto been described. Its scutellum is large and transverse, its legs are somewhat short and thickened, and its rostrum (as in the ordinary members of the genus) is scarcely at all separated from the forehead by a constriction immediately behind the eyes, — which latter structure forms so remarkable a feature in the P. longirostre, which occurs likewise in New Zealand.* In the slight sexual dissimilarity of its prothorax (no less than in that of its rostrum) it makes a more decided approach than is usual amongst the Pen- tarthra to certain members of the true Gossonides, such as we see in the groups around Mesites. I have had much pleasure in naming the species after Dr. Sharp, who has at various times entrusted to me the most interesting consignments of New Zealand Cossonids — received from Auckland by Mr. E. Lawson, of Scarborough.
(Sub-Family Cosso^ides.) Genus BBACRT8GAPUS (?). WoUaston, Trans. Ent. Soc. Loud., 463 (1873). Bracutscapus ? AJf GOLENSis, n. sp. B. oblongus, coriTexiuscuhis, nitidiusculus, calvus, ater; rostro (brcviusculo, ci'assiu8culo) nitido, levitcr punctulato, oculis magnis sed demissis, siipi-a hand latis- sirae Bcparatis ; prothrace (elytris conspicue angustiore) sub-cylindrico-ovali, groese et profuude punctato, pone apicem fortitcr constricto ; scutello raango ; elytris (ad basin conspicue trisinuatis) profunda et grossissime sidcato-punctatis (punctis maxi- mis), interstitiis convexis et fere baud punctulatis; an tennis (circa medium rostri insertis) tarsisquo (longiusculis, graciliusculis) rufo-picois. Subtus (prtEScrtim in Bternis) grosso et valdc profuude puuctatus. Long. Corp. lin. 2|. Habitat Africam occidontalom, ab Angola missus. In coll. D. A. Murray.
Although its scape is less shortened than that of the South African B. crassirostris, and its rostrum is both less thickened and less trian- gular, I, nevertheless, am inclined to suspect that the somewhat PhloeojjJiayus-liko Angolan insect, for which the present species has
• An extensive series of the P. longimHre wliich has l.itely been communicated by Dr. Sharp, enables me to coirect the diagnosis of that sjiccics a.s rejjards size, — which, instead of beuig from " Ij to 2 lines," may be stated to Ijo from IJ to 2 lines. — T. V. W.
1874.
151
been proposed, and which is from the collection of Mr. Andrew Murray, is, on the whole, better referred, perhaps, to my genus Brachi/scapus than to any other of the numerous forms of the sub- family Cossonides. For although it is not altogether impossible that it may eventually be found to constitute the type of a closely-allied group, it has, nevertheless, so much in common with Brachyscapus, not merely in its intensely black, deeply sculptured surface, and rather narrowed, oval prothorax, but likewise in its comparatively large scutellum, and the structure of its exceedingly sunken and not very widely separated eyes, that I think it is wiser (for at all events the present) to regard it as a member of that genus than to establish a separate one for its reception. Its prinid facie appearance is very much that of a large Pldoeophagus ; but, apart from all other charac- ters, its conspicuously developed scutellum will at once distinguish it from that genus..
Teignmouth : October, 1874.
DESCRIPTION OF A NEW JAPANESE LYCOPERDINA. BT THE EEV. H. S. QOEHAM.
Ltcopeedina castaxeipennis, sjj. n.
? . Ovata, picea, nitida, parcius sat fort iter punctata, tliorace clytrisque convexioribus, his rufo-castaneis. Lonrj. tin. 3.
Allied to L. dux, Gorh., distinguished by its larger and more con- vex thorax, which is especially more enlarged in front ; the elytra are also proportionally wider in the middle and more convex. Head and thorax pitchy, very feebly but visibly punctured, the latter a little longer than wide, with the sides sinuate, hind angles right ; basal sulci longer than in X. dux, slightly arcuate, and well marked, as well as the transverse basal impression. Elytra nhoi't oval, their sides more rounded than in L. dux, of a uniform chestnut-red, scarcely lighter at the apex. Legs and antcnnso pitchy-black, tarsi and extreme apex of the latter rufous.
Hab., Japan.
Two specimens, presenting the above differences from L. dux, ai'o from the collection of Mr. G. Lewis. The species has more of the general appearance of the North American L. fcrrucjinea, but is easily separated by its darker antenna), legs, head, and thorax. They are both females.
Sliipley ; Novemhpr, 187 !■•
■[fj2 [Pecembei-,
NOTES ON BRITISH TOETEICES. BY C. G. BAEEETT.
{continned from p. 134).
In working out the very interesting and difficult genus Eiipcecilia I have derived inuch assistance from the valuable paper by my esteemed friend Mr. McLachlan in the Ent. Annual for 1SG9, and shall confine myself to additional information received, and corrections made, since it was published.
Eupoecilia maculosana, Haw. — Prof. Zeller tells me that he cannot see that this species differs, except in size, ivova. purgatana, Tr. Wocke, however, who doubtless knows our insect, gives them as distinct.
Eupoecilia atricapitana, Steph. — Common in Yorkshire, and not scarce in Norfolk, and probably to be found in all the chalk districts of the East of England, among rag -weed (Senecio jacohcea) , from the blossoms of which it has been reared by Mr. Howard Yaughan.
EupoeeiUa duhitana, Hiibn. — Stephens was correct in saying that this species occurs in Scotland. I have received specimens from my friend Mr. Chapman, of Glasgow, which were taken on the banks of the Forth and Clyde canal. It has also been taken this summer in Kent, within a few miles of London. It is so plentiful a species on the Continent, that its excessively local distribution in this country is rather remarkable. Some of its food-plants are mentioned by Mr. McLachlan, to which I may add Solidngo virgaurea.
Eupoecilia alhicapitana, Cooke. — Described by Mr. Nicholas Cooke in the Zoologist (p. 7800), and recorded without description in the Entom. Annual for 1862 (p. 111). Mr. McLachlan, however, suffi- ciently describes it, and points out its distinctive characters in his paper (E. A., 1869, p. 86).
It is, however, identical with 'pallidana, Zell. (Isis, 1847), as speci- mens sent me by him conclusively prove, and his name, having priority, must be adopted. This correction has already been made by Mr. Doubleday, in the latest supplement to his list.
Postcraiia, Zell., to which Mr. McLachlan refers is distinct from this, having longer fore-wings with dilated rounded apex, tinged with purplish. To this species, which has not yet been detected in this country, I shall have occasion again to refer.
PalJidana, besides the original habitat on the Irish coast, is com- mon in the Isle of Man, whoice I have received fine specimens from the JJev. E. P. Murray, lii the collecti(jii of the Rev. Henry Burney
1874.. 153
are specimens most beautifully tinged with pink, but not otherwise differing from the ordinary form. Their locality seems uncertain, but it is probable that they were taken on the coast of North Wales.
Eiipoecilia sodaliana, Haw. ? Wilk. — Haworth's description of this species is hardly sufficient to distinguish it from carduana, Zell., or even (as he says nothing of the colour of the head and thorax) from atricapitana. Stephens' description, where not copied from Haworth, is worse, and Wood's figure is anything but characteristic, being, to all appearance, drawn from a damaged specimen in Haworth's col- lection (still existing in the British Museum), in which the peculiar dorsal blotch is nearly obliterated. Consequently, Dr. Wocke quotes sodaliana, Steph. (he does not I'efer to Hawox'th), without question, as a synonym of hyhridelht, Hiibn.
I tliink, therefore, that it will be better to place ourselves in accord with continental entomologists by adopting amandana, H.-S., for this species, since it certainly has priority to Wilkinson's really excellent description.
JEnpoecilia carduana, Zell. — Prof. Zeller, with Heinemann, thinks it doubtful whether Wocke is correct in referring this species to hybridella, Hijbn., while Gucnee says that Hiibner's figure correctly represents bred specimens. Hence he appears to know its food-plant, but here arises a difficulty. M. Jourdheuille in his Calendar states that its larva feeds in thistle heads, assuming the pupa state within tliem ; but examples of this thistle-feeding species, sent by M. liagonot from Paris, prove to be posterana, Z., and not carduana, from which they are readily distinguished by the straighter costa, dilated apex, and whitish hind-wings. Carduana has the costa rounded, and the liind-wings dark grey, but a reference to Mr. Staiutou's copy of Hiibncr confirms Dr. AV^ocke in its identity with hyhridella (Hiibn., Tin., 351), and it will, therefoi'e, be safe to follow Mr. Doubleday in adopting this name.
Eupoecilia nana, Haw. — By some inadvertence this species occurs twice in Dr. Wocke's Catalogue : first, at No. 880, as nana, Haw., Steph., and AVood, and again. No. 898, as amhicjuana, Frol.,with nana, AVilk., Steph. jManual, as a synonym, lint as AVHIkinsoii and Stainton refer to the same species as Haworth, his name, liaviug priority over that of Frolich, must stand.
The larva is said to feed in bircli calkins.
Eupoecilia amhiguclla, Hiibn. — With Mr. McLachlan, I have felt great doubt whether our wood-frequenting insect could be identical
]^5^ [December,
with that which causes so much damage on the continent by feeding on the flower buds of the vine, but Prof. Zeller assures me that they are identical, and that it occurs also in woods in Germany, where there is no vino.
I much regret that I have had no opportunity of trying again to rear what I believe to be the larva of this species in berries of Mhnmnus fmngiila (E. M. M., vol. vi, p. 113), among which plant the insect always occurred in the Haslemere district.
Eiqjcecilia curvistrigana, Wilk. — Undoubtedly distinct from an- gustana, having broader fore- wings. Prof. Zeller tells me that he sees no character to distinguish it from hin gilvicomana, with vi^hkhjlavis- capulana, H.-S., appeai-s to be identical. But as I have been unable to send him more than one or two specimens, from which he could not give a decided opinion, and he has not been able to send me gilvicommia, and as, moreover, I do not recognize our insect in Herrich-Schaffer's figure oijiaviscapulana, it will not be advisable to alter the name without further information.
Eupcecilia angustana, Iliibn. — Dr. Wocke substitutes cruentana, Frol., doubting whether Hiibner's fig. 74 refers to this species. I think, however, that there is little doubt about this, and see no reason for making the alteration.
Eossler's observation respecting one of the food-plants of this species is confirmed by the Rev. Henry Buimey, who writes : " I bred " several specimens last July from larvre found here on common "yarrow (^Achillea millefoJiuni) growing by the side of a corn-field, and " a long way from any heath. The larvaa feed on the seeds of the "yarrow, fastening the dead flowers together in little bunches or " knots. They are thick, short, and stumpy little things, of a flesh or " reddish- white colour, and are very active and apt to wriggle out and " drop on the ground when one attempts to cut off the flower-head."
There is something unsatisfactory about this species in the fact that the June bi'ood occurs in woods, fields, and marshes, as well as heaths, and is richly coloured and large, but not very abundant, while the August brood, which is smaller and paler, occurs in swarms, but almost exclusively on heaths.
Eupeecilia notulana, Zell. — I think it most likely that this species, like so many of its congeners, feeds on t\ie Jloioers or seeds of Mentha, and only enters the stems to spin up. It also feeds on Inula dijs- ent erica.
EitpceciJia griseana, ITaw. — This is a subject not to be lightly liandled ! It has cost me many hours of careful study, comparison, and consideration for years past, and I have arrived at no very satis- factory conclusion yet — nor has anybody else.
To begin with, Hawoi'th's description is not satisfactory, not recognizable, in fact, I may go further and say, incomprehensible and untranslateable. He compares it with roseana, but without at all making his meaning clearer, and only gives one a faint idea that he nia^ have had nofuJana, Zell., before him. Stephens copies his diag- nosis, but adds a description, to which I shall have to refer presently. AVood figures subroseana, Haw., under this name. Mr. Doubleday, in his list, sunk it into a doubtful synonym of udana, Gn., and Wocke (without the query) restored it as the prior name, making udana the synonym. But udana is not grey, and the description does not apply to it at all. Mr. McLachlan passes griseana with very short notice, but makes it synonymous with Manniana, F. v. E-. — a yellow species — as well as with udana, Gn. The consequence is that at least half-a- dozen different species have been sent to me as griseana, Haw., and I had come to the conclusion that the name must be discarded altogether, when, in examining the collection of Tortrices in the British Museum, I came upon eight specimens, in fine condition, and labelled from Stephens's collection, which stood under the name of griseana, and arc not, in my judgment, referable to any other species with which I am acquainted. These specimens have the fore-wings brownish-grey, with a dark brown central fascia attenuated towards the dorsal margin, and a brown streak or narrow fascia before the apex. Cilia ochreous with brown spots. Hind-wings fuscous. They agree so closely wdth Stephens's English description, that I see no reason why the name should not be retained for them. The locality from w^hich they were obtained is unknown, and I am not aware of the existence of any similar specimens in any private collection. This species is larger than Vectisana, with more rounded fore-wings, and seems intermediate between it and rupicola.
Eupoecilia udana, Gn. — This is the species from which Messrs. Stainton and Wilkinson's descriptions of griseana were taken. Guenco's description is tolerably accurate (but the ghjssy shades seem to fade readily, and leave it a comparatively dull ochreous).
"Anterior wings glossy, variegated with dark olive, ochreous, and " silvery markings, a darker central fascia not very clearly dcjined, in " which is a blackish spot. Apex of the wings ochreous and marked " with brown. Posterior wings greyish-fuscous. Head and palpi " yellow."
156 [December,
"It flies in marshy meadows among Carices in August" (Gn. Ind., 61). It may be best distinguished from its congeners by its mottled ochreous ground colour and entire dark central fascia, broadest in the middle, with a black spot at its hinder edge.
It has been taken rather commonly near London, by Messrs. McLachlan, Machin, and others, among Alisma plantago, upon which plant it is said, by Heinemann and Zeller, to feed. Mr. Machin now informs me that he has reared it this season from larvse feeding in the stems of Alisma in the Hackney Marshes. It also occurs more rarely in the Norfolk fens.
Although Wilkinson's description of griseana seems to have been taken from this insect, his observations upon it are most puzzling, since it is not very similar to Vectisana, nor does it at all resemble his subroseana (cilieUa, Iliibn.). Moreover, the species which has been reared from Inula dysenterica is not this, but notulana, Tt., as proved by specimens sent me by Mr. Doubleday. I suspect, however, that it is to this species that M. Jourdheuille refers in his Calendar, when he gives Alisma plantago as the food-plant of Mussehliana and of notulana.
(To he continued.)
Note on a species of Apion new to the British list. — There are two examples ((? and ? ) of an Apion set aside in Dr. J. A. Power's collection, taken by himself in 1867, at Hastings, which differ considerably from any recorded British species, and arc, I think (in spite of a discrepancy in measurement), to be referred to A. opeticum, Bach (Wencker, Mon. des Apionides, p. 10). That species is described as differing from poHJOJicE in its size being often smaller (the smallest being 2\ mill.), its invariably black colom% its rostrum being more abruptly contracted a little after the middle, and less dilated at the base in both sexes, and its antennal club being pointed-OToid, — the club being more elongate in pomonce. Now, Dr. Power's insects agree well enough with opeticum as thus characterized (the lesser basal dilatation of the rostrum being best seen laterally), except that they barely exceed two mill, in length {rostro exclusd). They have, as should opeticum, entirely the facies of subu- latum, but with the rostrum shorter, stouter at the base, and more abruptly contracted. They are of the same size as small craccce, but less pubescent, especially in front, with only the base of the first antennal joint testaceous, &c. According to Wencker, A. opeticum lives on Orolus vernus. — E. C. Rte, Parkfield, Putney, S.W. : No- vember, 1874.
Observations on a viviparous ChrysomeJa. — With reference to the note on this subject by M. Bleuze, a translation of which appeared in our last number {ante p. 135), M. Valery Mayet has ^hcw^l in the Pet. Nouv. Entomologiqucs for 1st No- vember, 1874, that the fact is not new, it having been already recorded by M. Perroud in the Annales do la Soc. Linneene de Lyon for 1855. This article is entitled " Notice Bur la viviparity ou I'ovoviviparite des Oreina speciosa ct sttperha," pp. 402 — 406 ; and, according to M. Mayet, Chrysomela (or OreipaJ venusta may be only a variety
1874.J 157
of speciosa. It 13 possible the habit may be the rule, and not the exeeption, in epecies of Orelna ; any way the fact is in the highest degree interesting, and although M. Bleuze's discovery is not new, it is a valuable coufiruiation of M. Perroud's observations. — Eds.
Hyhrids between Smerinthns oceUatus and S. popidi. — When sending rny note a month or two ago (ante p. 116) on the brood of the hybrid between Smerint/ms ocellaltis a,nd populi, reared here, I had not noticed an interesting fact, since pointed out to me by Mr. Joseph Sidebotham of Manchester, namely, that every specimen had male antennae. Since then I have also heard of several other broods that have been reared at different times, but in no instance has a specimen having female antenna; been noticed. I suppose there is little doubt that all the specimens were neuters ; but it would be interesting to learn if all hybrids between these or other species take this form. In all the instances I have heard of, the parents were $ ocellatus and $ populi. — GrEO. T. Pobritt, Huddersfield : November 12th, 1874.
Deiopeia pulchella at Folkestone. — On the 28th ultimo, whilst shooting near Folkestone, I disturbed a specimen of D. pulchella in a field of mustard, and after a short chase succeeded in pinning it. It is a female specimen in fine condition. The place where I took it is only about three hundred yards from the spot where my brother, Mr. T. II. Briggs, took a specimen in 18G9 (E. M. M., vol. vi, p. 141), and, as in that case, a field of swedes and white tiuTiips adjoined. I have seen three other specimens taken in the neighbourhood, one of which, captured in the Warren, I have since secured, and it is now in the cabinet of Mr. Howard Vaughan. — C A. Bbiggs, 55, Lincoln's Iim Fields : VMh November, 1874.
Aplecta occulta bred in October. — I have recorded in the current number of the Magazine {ante p. 139) that larvaj of this species, hatched in the first week of August, had fed up rapidly and assumed the pupa state. I bred the first moth on the 20th of last mouth, and have had several more out since, at intervals of a day or two. Tliey are mostly very fine examples of the black Rannoch foi-m, and are, I think, on the average, qiute as dark as those taken there at sugar. The larvise were fed almost entirely on Polygonum aviculare. No means of forcing were used with the pupa; to accelerate the appearance of the moths. — J. B. Blackbuen, Grassmeade, Soutiifields, Wandsworth, S.W. : lO^A November, 1874.
Depressaria Yeatiana bred. — Dr. Jordan having mentioned incidentally that he had bred tliis insect, I wrote for some details of the fact, in reply to which ho wrote me as follows : " Three or four years ago, in July, a larva was brought to me, '' at Teignniouth, by my brother, on a plant of Senebiera (CoronopusJ didyma, which " came out as Depressaria Yeatiana. The Senebiera was a weed in a large bed of " carrots, and the deduction at which I jumped was that the larva, whicli was ready " to spin, fed upon carrot, and, moreover, as garden caiTots arc not allowed to flower, " that it probably fed on the leaves.
" The larva was very remarkable from its black, shining acute head, and I should "know it again ; its body was entirely green, I suppose the spots had faded because " it was quite ready to spin up ; this it did at once in a pill-box, and the moth came "out in about three weeks. I have the specimen now."
I liope this information may enable those who are in the habit of taking the imago to meet with the larva. — II. T. Stainton, MountsGeld, Lewisham, S.E. November 16th, 1874.
158 [Decemljcr,
Rare Tortricina. — Since my return from Scotland, I find among my Tortrices the following scarce species : Penthina prcBlongana and Staintoniana, Mixodia ruhi- ginosana (Bouchardana) , Asthenia cosmophorana and cognatana, also Dicrorampha herhosana. For the identification of some of these and several others I am indebted to Messrs. C. S. Gregson and C. Q-. Barrett. — John T. Caebingxon, Egremont : November, 1874.
Notes of Lepidopterafrom South Wales. — In the May number of the Magazine I had the pleasure of noticing the capture of Xylina conformis here. I have now to note the capture of Sterrha sacraria — a female who had deposited her ova, having come to light on the 12th inst.
Among the more interesting species of Lepidoptera which have shown up this year are Agrotis saucia (a fine variety) ; Hoporina croceago ; Epunda nigra, a fine series in the second week of September ; Plusia orichalcea, two ; P.festuccs, several ; Macaria alternaria, two.
I have scarcely seen one Sphinx the whole summer through. — John T. D. Llewelyn, Ynisygerwn, Neath : October 17th, 187-4.
Notes on larva-collecting, ^'c, in the New Forest. — As there appears to be some doubt as to the natural food-plants of the lai-va of Acronycta alni, perhaps the following may be of interest.
During the last week in July, while on a collecting excursion in the New Forest, my friend, Mr. Eoss of Eathampton, beat a larva of this insect either off oak or beech — I think the former. Seeing in Mr. Newman's " British Moths " that the natural food-plant was doubtful, he offered it several different plants to choose from. It attached itself to the beech and sallow, on both of which I myself saw it feeding. He afterwards found another and smaller larva hanging by a thread to a birch leaf — but this was injiu'ed and did not live long.
On the 1st of August I joined Mr. Eoss at Lyndlmrst, and on the 2nd, whilst beating for larvoe in a wood known as " Park Hill," chiefly consisting of beech trees, I beat a half-fed larva of this species off the bough of a beech-tree. It had not then changed its last skin, and was very peculiar in appearance, being mottled with dirty white and grey. It possessed clubbed hairs Uke those of the adult larva on the second and twefth segments only — they being replaced on the other segments by shorter pointed and somewhat spine-hke hairs. My friend, Mr. Bartlett, having kindly undertaken to take charge of my larvro, this was despatched to him along with the others, and beech not being obtainable in his neighbourhood, he supplied it with sallow, on wliich it fed up well, and eventually spun its cocoon in a piece of cork.
On the 16th of August, the last day of my stay at Lyndhurst, I beat a larva of Stauropus fagi. Mr. Eoss also took a larva of this species.
We foimd larvse of Acronycta leporina not uncommon on the smaller birches growing in heathy places. In one day I succeeded in beating eight (Mr. Eoss found them more common at the beginning of September) . It is, I think, somewhat re- markable that it was of no use to beat the fine old birch-trees which abound in many parts of the forest. I do not think I obtained a single larva, either rare or common, off them, although on the birch-bushes and shoots larvte were common. Besides the above, we took the following lai*vfe : — Lithosia aureola, rather common on oak and beech ; Liparis tnonacha, one, taken the second week in August (surely very
1874] 159
late ?), from which I bred a very flue ? ; Etirymene dolobraria, common in one in- closurc, on oak, elsewhere rare ; Ennomos tiliaria, two (I also beat one imago, a t? , out of the bough of a birch) ; E. erosaria, two ; Boarmia rohoraria, by no means uncommon in the inclosure above-mentioned, not so common in other localities ; B. consortaria, not rare : one ^ imago emerged at the end of September ; Cidaria psiHacata, a few on oak ; Dicranura furcula, two ; Notodonta dictaoides, very scarce : I only took two, both ichneumoned ; N. dromedarins, not common ; iV. Chaonia and dodonwa (the latter miich scarcer than it was last season) ; Dlphthera Orion. The larvte of this beautiful Noctua were not nearly so common as the abun- dance of t he imago during June led us to hope they would be. Up to the 15th of August I had only taken about a dozen. I then discovered the inclosure named above, and here they were not rare, as I beat twenty in two days (sixteen on the last day — the largest number, I believe, taken in one day by any collector hi the forest). We also took many other species, some of wliich we do not yet know. As to the images, I captured very few worth naming, as the weather was very bad, and the insects scarce, I did not do much day-work, devoting myself almost entirely to larva-coUecting ; indeed, besides the E. tiliaria ah-eady recorded, I only captured one fine ? Demas coryli (which laid me a large batch of ova), one ? Flaiypieryx lacertula (which also favoured me with eggs), and one P. miyuicula. Sugaring was not much more productive. The only captures by its means worth noticing were : — Cidaria immanala (a nice series) ; Cerigo Cytherea (not so common as usual) ; Agro- tis pula, two ; TryphcBna interjeda, two; and Noctita rhomboidea (common, but mostly worn. I obtained a number of ova from some injured females).
Catocala promissa and C. sponsa were not common. Of the latter I managed, after nmch trouble, to obtain a few ova. I kept the ? for a week before she began to lay, and on opening her body after death discovered a number of ova still in tho ovary.— B. Lockter, Euston Eoad, N.W. : October \2th, 187'i.
An entomological scrap. — To-day, while seated in one of the city dining-rooms, I got into conversation with my vis-a-vis, a middle-aged gentleman, apparently very intelligent and of good education. Suddenly his attention was attracted by several lively examples of the little Ilouse-Ant {Diplorhoptrum domesticum) nmning about on the table-cloth. He asked me what they were. I rephed " Ants." The gentle- man considered for a moment, and then made the profound remark : " I should have " thought they tooitld have done having yotmg ones at this time of year." Could any- thing demonstrate more forcibly the necessity for clementarj- Natural Ilislorj- forming part of our educational system ? — R. MoLaciilan, Lewisham : 18^/i Nov., 1874.
Insects Auroad ; being a popular account of Foreign Insects, their structure, habits, and transformations. By the Rev. J. O. WoOD. 8vo, pp. 1—772. London: Longmans, Green, and Co., 187'1'.
Tliis is a companion volume to " Insects at Ilomc," by (he same writer. Mr. Wood is well known as a prolific and successful book-maker in the department of Natural History, and this work is not inferior to any of his previous ones, and a marvel of cheapness. Those who merely desire a pretty and interesting volume for tho drawing-room table, will find this answer their puqwsc, in spite of the letter- press (where not avowedly or obviously copied) consisting mostly of vague coloiu*- dcscriptions and useless discussions of the meanings of the mere names of the species
XQO [December,
figured. The innumerable wood-cuts (from drawings by Mr. E. A. Smith) are mostly clever, but sometimes show too much straining for effect, and an excessive foreshortening. Of course, absolute scientific accuracy is hardly to be expected. Perhaps the most unpardonable lapsus is to be found at p. 371, where a magnificent species of the curious Neuropterous genus Nemoptera is figiored as an Ascalaphus ('.), and the insect represented as hawking, dragon-fly-like, over the surface of a pool, equally out of place for either a Nemoptera or an Ascalaphus ; and another un- happy disregard of habits is to be seen on pi. xviii, where one of the CicadcB has its rostrum applied, humming-bird-like, to the flower of an orchid. Mr. Wood has gone oiit of liis way in naming ' new species ' in several orders, apparently from the collections of the British Museum (e. g., Forficula Petropolis [!], p. 279), — -a process not likely to add to the prestige of that Institution, and implying a poor return by the author for the (acknowledged) civility of its ofiicers, who will, moreover, scarcely approve of his publication of theu' unguarded convei-satioual remarks.
Henry Dorville. Many of the readers of tliis Magazine will be sorry to learn that this gentleman died on the 30th October, for they will mourn the loss of a valued correspondent. He did not turn his attention to entomology until quite late in life, though when young he had the advantage of knowing intimately several eminent naturalists, such as Dr. Leach, &c. He was born in Devonshire in 1798, and at not much more than thirteen years of age joined the navy, and was serving as a mid- shipman on board the " BeUerophou " when that ship brought Bonaparte to England. Not long after this, however, he was attacked by a constitutional malady, which obliged him to relinquish his profession, and from which he was never afterwards quite free. In 1819 he was appointed Yice-Consul at Venice under Hoppner, and in that office gained by his courtesy and integrity the friendship of many of his countrymen travelling or residing in Italy. Lord Byron, then at Venice, entrusted him for a time with the care of his little daughter ' Allegra,' and in Moore's edition of the poet's works, Mr. Dorville's name is often mentioned in letters to Hoppner.
In 1823 his weak state of health compelled him to give up liis appointment, and for the next ten yeai's he moved about, sometimes in England, sometimes on the Continent, being part of the time at Rome, where he again fell in with Leach, who •p as there with his sister, and with him used to visit Lucien Bonaparte ; he had not, however, in those days sufficient knowledge of natural history to take much interest in their pursuits ; only he remembered that Leach was engaged in a classification of insects by their mouths, and seemed perfectly rational except on one or two points, the mention of which would at once throw him off his balance.
In 1833 Mr. Dorville finally came to England, and soon after settled at Alphing- ton near Exeter, and there the latter half of his life was passed as free from change as the first half had been full of it. Ilis favourite pursuit here was at first gardening, but in 1856 symptoms of heart disease beginning to show themselves, and butt<.'rflies happening to swarm on his flowers, he took the advice of a friend, and exchanged the more severe exertion of gardening for collecting Lepidoptera, and the interest excited by the new pursuit seemed to give him, then close on sixty years of age, a new lease of life. Being unable to endure much fatigue, he could seldom make excursions in search of the various species in their native habitats, so he set himself to entice them to come to him instead. With this view he planted his garden with
1S74.] 161
attractivp flovecrs, and for j'cara together spread sugar on liis apple trees, night after night, in winter as well as summer, until at last his acre and a-half of garden ground, though from its situation devoid of unusual advantages, seemed to become a very rendezvous of moths, especially among the NoctucB, and if there were any unusual species about, they generally paid him a visit. During the last year of his life he had commenced to draw up an analyzed list of the species he had thus captured or observed, but, unfortunately, he was not able to complete it ; this is to be regretted, as such a list, compiled from nearly twenty years steady, continuous observation in one spot, would have been valuable in throwing light on the periodical abundance and scarcity of species, and the influence of successive seasons of varied character.
To Mr. Dorville's active and temperate habits it must be ascribed, that though never free from severe pain for many days together, liis sight was so clear, and his hand so steady, that he could pin and set out a Micro almost to the last ; and to the very last his mind retained all the freshness of youth, and he felt and showed a keen interest in all the questions of the day. Those who knew him at all, whether from personal intercoiu'se or only from correspondence, were struck not only by the perfect straightforwardness and sincerity of his character, and his detestation of everything false and mean, but also with his kindliness and liberality, and, in the best sense of the word, could heartily endorse Lord Byron's eulogy of him, " Dorville is " (alas ! now, wasj " a good fellow."
His collection of British Lepidoptera has been given to the Albert Museum at Exeter, and to the Linnean Society some unpublished MSS. of Col. Montagu, which were in his possession, with the original drawings, from which the illustrations of the ' Ornithological Dictionary,' and the ' Tcstacea Britanuica,' were made. He was a member of the Entomological Society of London since 1865. — J. H.
Entomological Society of London : Novemher 2nd, 1874. — Sir S. S. Saundees^ C.M.G., President, in the Chair.
Mr. S. Stevens exhibited three specimens of Deiopeia pulchella from Arundel and Deal, and a Noctua from Dover that he had not been able to identify.
Prof. Westwood remarked that Brigadier-General Ilearsey used to find the larva) of -D. pulchella destructive to his gardens in various parts of India. He also stated thai from the pupe of Pronuha yiiccasella, sent to him by Mr. Riley, the moths had continued to enuTge for three months. He furtlier remarked that he had lately seen the collection of the late Dr. Herrich-Scliiiffer, whioli was not in good order, tliough the Micro- Lepidoptera formerly belonging to Fischer von Roslerstamm were in good condition. At Geneva he had visited the New Museum built in the old moat of the city, and it suffered in consequence from damp, but the Coleojjtera formerly forming the collection of M. Melly were upstaii-s and in good order.
Mr. Bird exhibited several rare species of British Lepidoptera, including Sesia ctdiciformi.^ with wiiite Itaiuls, Limacodes nsellux, Sola albidalis, Nonayria brevilinea from Horning, and I'lerophorus rhododacfylits, bred.
Mr. Weir cxhiljited Mantis relirfiosa and egg-cases found hy him at Meran in the TjTol.
Mr. McLachlan exliibitcd a printer's block (such as is used for printing posters) attacked by Anohlum, and ho was informed that the attacks of the insect were causing serious damage to the stock of similar blocks. The wood was believed to bo p?ar-tree. He had recommeiuled soaking them in a solution of carbolic acid in water.
J^(J2 [Pecembor,
Dr. Sharp communicated " Descriptions of new genera and species of PselaphidcB and ScydmcenidcB from Australia and New Zealand." Three species pertained to tlie former group, forty-one to the latter. From Australia there were twenty-six species of PselaphidcB, from New Zealand fifteen. Dr. Sharp commented upon the New Zealand Fauna with regard to the prospect of its apparent extinction.
A paper was communicated by Mr. Darwin on the larrce of Papilio Nlreu.t, and especially on the colour of the pupa in connection with that of the surroundiiigs of its f)lfice of attachment, according to the observations of Mrs. Barber in South Africa (accompanied by explanatory figures), who hinted that there might be natural photographic influences at work. Mr. Meldola stated that no known substance retained, permanently, the colour reflected on it by adjacent objects ; and in reply to remarks made by Mr. McLachlan on the fact that flowej'-feeding larviB often assume (in the same species) the colour of their food, said that this might, perhaps, be caused by the colouring matter of the flower being assimilated in an unaltered condition by the larrse.
Mr. A. O. Ward communicated notes on a singular spider's nest found by his father at Poissy on the Seine ; he described it as pertaining to a spider that made a sym- metrical web. Mr. C. O. Waterhouso, to whom he had sent it, made a section and drawing of it, and found it to contain much sand mixed with the ordinary web ; this sand, it was suggested, might possibly serve as ballast.
Mr. Butler read "Descriptions of three new species and a new genus of Diurnal Lepidoptera from the collection of ]Mr. Swaiizy ;" these were from Whydah, West Africa.
Mr. Kirby communicated a review of Boisduval's " Monograpliie des Agaris- tidees," published in the Revue et Magasin de Zoologie, 1874, pp. 26 — 110.
The Rev. R. P. Murray read " Descriptions of some new species of butterflies belonging to the genus Lyccena" and commented upon the value of the generic characters assigned to insects of this group.
Mr. C. O. Waterhouse read " Notes on Australian Coleoptera, with descriptions of new species."
Haggeeston Entomological Society.— The Seventh Annual Exhibition was held at the Rooms, 10, Brownlow Street, Dalston, on the evenings of November 12th and 13th. Among the rarer species exhibited were the following : — Ophiodes lunaris ; Dianthcecia albimacula from Folkestone ; Leucania vitellina, taken at Olynde, near Lewes, September 30th, 1874 ; Xyliita conformis, bred ; hybrids between Smerinthus ocellatus and populi ; Catocala fraxini ; Lythra parpxi,raria ; Madopa salicalis ; Sophronia emortualis ; Diasemia literalis ; Dasydia ohfuscata ; Coremia munitata ; Agrotis cinerea ; JHellisoblapies cephalonica ; Myelois cinero- sella ; Scoparia decrepitalis ; Hypenodes costastrigalis, &c. Mr. Eedle also ex- hibited a new species of Coleophora with the lai-va-case.
Some fine varieties of the following species were shown: — Vanessa urtica ; Arctia caja ; Scotosia certata, light, with a dark band ; Cidaria immanata ; Mixodia Schnlzlana; Melanlhia rubiyinala ; Anthocharis cardamines with the fore-wings only, and those of a peculiar shape ; and last, but b^^ no means least in importance, a specimen taken by Mr. Macqueen at light in the New Forest, the specific identity of which was doubtfid, though the majority considered it to be Melanippe unangulata.
The foUov^ing were well represented : — CucuUia gnaphalii, Leucania allipuncta, JSrastria venustula, Spilodes palealis, Fenthina Staintoniana, Sericoris irriguana, Asthenia cosmophorana, &c.
Five microscopes where placed in one of the rooms, and were a constant source of amusement and instruction to many of the visitors. — Henky Bartlett, Secretary.
1?74 108
DESCRIPTIONS OF SIX NEW SPECIES OF DIUENAL LEPIDOPTERA IN THE COLLECTION OF THE BRITISH MUSEUM.
BT A. G. BUTLEE, F.L.S., F.Z.S.
Geuus DANAIS. The following species, althougli perfectly constaut, and as well marked as any of the insects in the green-spotted group, have been hitherto overlooked by Lepidopterists.
Danais septenteio>'I9, n. sp. Danais limniacce, Butler (nee Cramer), P.Z.S., p. 51, n. 34 (ISGG). Danais hamata, Butler (jiec McLeay), P.Z.S., p. 725, n. 3 (1870).
Allied to D. hamata, of McLeay, but constantly much larger, the primaries above with the spots on the disc smaller; secondaries ohve-brown (instead of chocolate-brown) ; the streaks beyond the cell, between the sub-costal and radial nervurcs, narrower, longer, and not notched externally ; the brown patch in the cell broader (frequently reaching to the radial ncrvuro without a notch), sub-marginal spots more elongated : primaries below paler than in D. hamata, secondaries more cupreous in tint ; expanse of wings, 4 inches 5 lines.
India, Nepal, Penang. B. M.
There can be no doubt that this is the Indian representative of the Australian species, D. hamata, McLeay (D. australis, Bdv.) ; it is, however, remarkably constant in its characters, although I believe its range is almost the same as that of D. Umniaccd. I have, from time to time, seen a great many examples, but have never seen any variation.
Danais miceosticta, n. sp.
^ . Danais llmniacee, var., Butler, P.Z.S., p. 51, n. 34 (186G).
AUied to the preceding species, but the primaries narrower ; all the spots on the wings very much smaller, all the streaks much narrower ; anal exsertile tuft ochreous ; expanse of wings, 4 inches 4 lines.
Borneo (Stevens). B. M.
I have seen several examples of this species, although we have only one specimen in the British Museum.
Daxais leucopteea, n. sp.
Allied to D. hamata, slightly larger; the discal areas from just beyond the dis- coidal cells decidedly paler (luteous in the secondaries of the fcuiale) ; all the spots and streaks narrower, and consequently more widely separated, and paler in tint ; wings below (particularly in the female) altogether redder in tint ; expanse of wings, 3 inches 11 lines.
cJ ?. Dorey {Wallaoe). B. M.
In some respects this species is more like D. ohscurata than Z). hamata.
XQ4< [December,
Daivais exprompta, n. sp.
Allied to D. similis, much smaller, the pale spots and streaks broader at base of wings, and in the series bounding the cell of secondaries ; the second and third spots of the postcellular series in primaries considerably smaller ; the long cuneiform spot of the outer discal series nearer to apical margin ; wings below altogether paler and less coppery in tint ; expanse of wings, 3 inches 2 lines.
Ceylon (WenJiam). B. M.
Dakais tulgaeis, n. sp. Danais meJissa, Doubleday {nee Cramer), List Lep. Brit. Mus., 1, p. 49 ; Geu. Diurn. Lep., p. 92, n. 28.
Allied to D. similis, altogether smaller, with all the spots paler and smaller, and all the streaks narrower ; the second and third spots of the postcellular series smaller; expanse of wings, 3 inches 3 lines.
Nepal, Bengal, Singapore, Borneo. B. M.
Genus PA.NOPEA.
Panopea peoteacta, n. sp.
Allied to P. Tarquinia, but much larger, the primaries longer ; the discoidal spots Bmaller, the discal spots double as large, a sub-marginal series of squamose whitish internervular spots or strigulse from sub-apical spots to external angle ; apex minutely white spotted ; patch on internal margin and band of secondaries deeper in colour ; the same wings with a sub-marginal series of squamose whitish strigulfe : body black, white spotted ; primaries below paler than above ; base of costa to rear end of cell dull orange, a discoidal ochreous streak below it ; all the white spots better defined than aboTC, the sub-marginal spots sharply defined merging into sub-apical spots at the upper end of the series ; internal patch whitish, wider than above ; apex and apical costa dull whitish ; secondaries ochreous, becoming gradually brown towards the outer margin, black spots at base as in P. Tarquinia ; a complete sxib-marginal series of elongate-ovate white spots ; body black, white spotted, legs and palpi black above, white below ; expanse of wings, 3 inches 6 lines.
Cabinda {Monteiro). Type B. M.
I should have described tins long ago, but we had no examples of P. Tarquinia with which to compare it ; lately, however, Capt. Shelley presented an example taken by liimself at D'Urban ; the two species differ most on the upper surface of the primaries and the under sur- face of the secondaries ; the pattern of the under surface is in fact almost exactly that of P. Lucretia, but the ground colouring of the secondaries, and the colouring of the upper surface, and the form of the primaries, are very diffei'ent.
P. protraeta is almost as large as P. dithia.
British Museum : November, 187'L ^
1874] 165
NEW LTC^NIB^ FEOM QUEENSLAND. BT W. II. MISKIN.
The following notes contain descriptions of two species of this charming family, which will, I think, prove new to science : one of these is a Deudorix, the other a Pseudodlpsas. Both are de- scribed from specimens in my collection, captured by myself, and in perfect condition.
PSEUDODIPSAS I>-XOTATUS, 01. SJ).
S . Upper-side : satiny, violet-blue. Fore-ioing : apex broadly black, narrowing off gradually to hinder angle, and abruptly to centre of costa ; lightly fringed with white. Jlind-wing with narrow black hinder margin, fringed with wliite, with black spots at termination of ncrvxdes.
5 . Black, with disc of fore-wing from base to rather beyond centre light Ulac- blue. nind-winjs faintly shot with blue, with fringe of white as in <J . Wings much less angulated than in S •
Under-side : both sexes pure white, without markings ^of any kind, excepting a minute black speck near abdominal margin towards the base.
Eyes beautiful sulphur-green.
Exp., (?, 11^ Hues ; ? , 12J lines. J^'^x
Hab. : Brisbane, Queensland.
Detjdortx Simsont, n. sp.
(J . Upper-side : both wings deep indigo-blue, in front wing increasing in density towards apex and hinder margin, which are nearly black, a darker patch is also ]ier- ceptihle about the centre of wing, and the lobe of posterior wing has a black centre, which is bordered on upper and inner side with a very faint margin of red ; between the tail and lobe, a sub-marginal streak of white.
Under-side : shining brown, with broad, sharply defined, dark brown transverse band across both wings at little beyond centre. Fore-winj : band commencing from costal margin, but not reaching inner margin, nor quite parallel with hinder margin, having an inclination towards anal angle, quite straight and without white border ; a short discoidal band rather indistinct, and touching central band, llind-iciiiff : Ijand straight until reaching elbow, and without white margin, from thence to ab- dominal margin it is lightly bordered on each side with white ; a short, rather indistinct discal band of brown, remote from centnil band ; caudal spot black, sur- mounted by an almost imperceptible border of red ; lobe black, crowned with white ; a fine sub-margin of white from lobe to caudal spot ; tail black, tipped with white.
? . Lighter blue than male, of a leaden luie ; costal margin black, fore-wings somewhat more rounded than in ^ .
S with tuft of strong black hairs on inner margin of front wing on under-side. Both sexes witli scarlet between the eyes. Exp., (J , 14 hues ; ? , 16 lines. Hab. : Port Dcnison and Brisbane, Queensland.
Brisbane : IHlh March, 1871.
H
^W BCI
W Ce
\QQ I Deccnilx;r,
NOTES ON JAPANESE BUTTEEFLIES, WITH DESCRIPTIONS OF NEW GENERA AND SPECIES.
BT THE EEV. E. P. MUEUAT, M.A.
The insects to whicli the following observations and descriptions refer were collected by Mr. H. Pryer, mostly in the immediate neigh- bourhood of Yokohama.
Papilio Deliaani, Feld. — This species, which is probably not dis- tinct from P. Manckl, Men., appears to be not very uncommon, but, from its strong and rapid flight, is difficult to obtain in good condition.
P. Demetrius, Cram.
P. Alcinoiis, Klug. — There are two forms of this species, one black, the other fawn colour (P. Mencius, Feld.).
P. Sarpedon, Linn.
In addition, Mr. Pryer takes the following species : P. Macliaon, L., Xuthus, L., " ^uthuUnus^^ (? Xuthuliis, Brem.), and Pammon, L. He sends me the following note on P. Xuthulinus : " I believe XutJiu- " linus to.be a stunted form of Xuthiis : the larva and food-plant are " the same, and very strangely, XuthuJiniis is the only single-brooded " Papilio we' have here, appearing very early in the year ; the larva? " feed up very rapidly just as the leaves are going off the trees in No- " vember, so the question naturally arises, what becomes of them from "April to November? I think the small size is caused by bad and " insufficient food : if I can get time, I will endeavour to breed them " from the egg next spring."
Parnassius glacialis, Butl. — Two specimens from " Neko, about 100 miles north of Tokio." The species does not seem to occur on the mountains near Yokohama.
Anthocaris Scolymus, Butl.
Colias Hijale, Linn. — I have not seen specimens from Japan. Mr. Pryer states that it is extremely abundant both on the plains and the mountains.
Terias Iceta, Boisd. — I am inclined to think that the insect de- scribed by Mcnetries as T. Jcegeri is the Japanese form of T. Iceta. Certainly the specimens in my collection agree closely with his de- scription and figure.
T. Mandarina, De I'Orza.
T. Hccahe, Linn.
1874.] 107
T. Brrmla, Doubl., ITcw. — This species, wliicli appears to be very common in Japan, was originally described from Western Africa. It is very variable in its appearance, the hind marginal border sometimes presenting a well-marked sinus, as in T. Ilecnhe, which in other cases the sinus is almost (or quite) obsolete. I am inclined to think that it is a form of the extremely variable and w'idcly distributed T. Ilecahe, L.
Gonepteryx rJinmni, L. — I have only seen a single (damaged) speci- men of this insect from Japan.
Pieris Melete, Men. — " Varies considerably " (H. Pryer).
Ghrysoplianus pJdcects, L. — The dark form (C. Timeus, Cram., Eleus, Fab., chinrnsis, Feld.) is only the summer brood of this species.
Lycmna Argiades, Pall.
L. Argia, Men. — I think that I have rightly determined the spe- cimens which I have referred to this species, though they all differ slightly from Menetries' figure and description. The $ especially seems liable to vary. In all the specimens which have come under my observation, I notice the following points of difference from the typical L. Argia : on the under-side of the anterior wings there is a minute spot below that within the cell, and another on the costa between the first and second sub-costal nervules ; on the posterior wings there is a spot on the inner margin near base ; none of these arc noticed by Mene- tries. Above these are six (sometimes seven) marginal dots on the hind- wing instead of five. I do not, however, consider these small differences as of specific value. The insect seems common about Tokohama.
L. jAPOiS'iCA, sp. nov.
Alls supra dilute ccEnileis, poslice brunneo-maryinalis : suhtus cinereis, nijro- maculatis {tnaculis albo-marginalis).
Allied to L. Argia, Men.
$ . Wing8 above rather dull blue, with a narrow brown border (o hind margin, well defined interiorly. Under-side : wings ash-grey ; fore-wing with a discocellular streak, a spot within cell, another below it faintly indicated, and a transverse row of spots crossing the wing beyond the middle ; all these markings are black, and arc ringed with white. There are two sub-marginal rows of fuscous, rather elongate spots, the exterior very indistinct, and the iinier sufFusedly wliit e margined, especially interiorly. A very fine fuscous marginal lino before the cilia.
Jlind-iviiiffs : a basal row of three spots, a diseoeelluhir streak, and a curved and angulated row of eight spots beyond middle ; all these black, ringed with white. A double liind marginal row of indistinct fuscous luiiules. Fi'ingc dirty white.
Alar, exp., 1" 2'". Ilab., Yokohama: Japan.
IQg [December, 1874.
This species, though very close to L. Argia, seems distinct. It differs considerably in coloration, and exhibits no trace of the marginal spots of the hind-wing so conspicuous in L. Argia. I only possess a single specimen.
L. Laclonicles, De I'Orza. — A single ^ specimen. This species is very closely allied to L. Argiohis, Linn., and I cannot but doubt whether it be distinct.
L. Pryeri, Murray. — I believe that the nearest relationship of this very distinct species is with the Argiolus group.
L. Lycormas, Butler. — The only Japanese specimens I have seen are the types in Brit. Mus. I possess examples from Amoorland.
Satsuma, gen. nov.
Oculi sat magni, pilosi.
Faljpi valde pilosi, porrecti.
AntenncB graciles, sat longce, distinctissime albo-annulatce, in claxmm dis-
tinctam suhito desinentes. AlcB angidatcE, anticm vend sub-eostali triramosd,postice ad angulum analem ralde productcB. ITea<l of moderate size ; eyes hairy ; palpi moclorately long, porrcct, densely clothed with long hairs, terminal joint slender : antennae rather long, slender, white ringed, with distinct fusiform club. Thorax robust. "Wings triangular, elbowed on hind margin, especially the hind-wing, which possesses a distinct lobe at anal angle.
Male with a small, almost linear, patch on fore-wing, at extremity of cell, similar to that observed in many species of Thecla.
Hind-wings with a distinct groove to receive abdomen. Fringes spotted. I have founded this genus to receive the curious species described by Mr. A. Gr. Butler (from a very imperfect specimen) as Lycasna ferrea, and which is possibly identical with Thecla ccerulescens, Motsch., though the very vague description by the latter leaves the point un- certain.
The elbowed form of the wings, together with the strongly de- veloped lobe at the anal angle of hind-wings (which may indicate an af^nitj to Deudorix) , at once separate the genus from any other known to me. The neuration seems to be nearly as in Thecla, but the second sub-costal nervule of the hind-wings is given off further from the base than in that genus.
Dipsas Attilia, Brem. — I have received two specimens, which I think may be referred to the ? of this species. They differ from the description of the (J in possessing a rather conspicuous sub-marginal row of bluish- white spots (that at root of tail possesses a black centre) on hind-wings above ; between these spots and the margin is a well- marked bluish-white lino, divided by the brown uervures.
January, 1875] ]^(j<)
D. scejyestriata, Ilew. D. lufea, Hew.
DiPSAS JAPOxiCA, sp. nov.
$ . Alis supra viridi-micantibtis : aniicis margine externo nigro ; posticis cati- datis, late nigro-marginatis. Subtus hrunneis ; anticis strig(h transversi% alhX in ramum medianum primum desinente,fascii%que suhmarginali fusc/l. Postlcis strigA transversal albd, apud angulum analem literce W instar, acute angiilatd, lunulis mar- ginalibits albicantibus biseriatis, angulum analem versus maculis duahusfalvis {basin, versus nigro-marginatisj , ocellos nigros gerenlibus, lineCique prceclliari alb'%. Ciliis alb is.
$ . Alis supra brunneis : subtus ut in mare. Alar, exp., 1" 10'". Hab. Japoniam.
Very nearly allied to D. smaragdina, Brem. (E. Siberia), from which, however, it eeems to me distinct. Judging from Bremer's figure, the two species would seem to be alike on the upper-side ; but D.japonica differs beneath in the absence of the discocellular markings, and in the transverse white streak of the hind-wing being acutely an- gulated towards the anal angle (not oltuse, as Bremer describes D. smaragdina). Between the two black spots at the anal angle of hind- wing is a third small one, bearing some whitish scales in the middle. There are a few metallic-blue scales on the outer edge of the spot at the anal angle. The orange is continued along the inner margin for a Bhort distance.
DiPSAS 0EIENTALI9, Sp. nOV.
$ . Alis supra brunneis, anticis ad apicem marginemque exteriorem saturatiori- bus, maculd magna pallidd, obliquO, ; posticis caudatis. Alis subtus canis : anticis strigd discocellulari J'uscd, strigd transversa albA basin versus fusco-marginatd, in ramum medianum primum desinente, maculisque obsoletis prcemarginalihus fuscis, albo-marginatis : posticis strigd discocellulari obsolete fused, strigd transversd albd, basi7i versus f usco-marginal'i , apud angulum analem lilerce W instar obtuse angttlatd, lunulis prcBmarginalibus albis biseriatis, maculd elongatd marginis interioris fprope angulum analem) macullque ad caudce radicem nigro-pupillatd, fulvis, linedque j^rce- ciliari albd.
Alar, exp., 1" 7'"- Hab. Japoniam.
Very closely allied to D. Taxila, Brem. The fore-wings are brown, darker at the apex, and along the hind margin, and possess in the male a yellowish square patch at the end of the cell, which is con- tinued obliquely in the direction of a point on the hind margin a little above the anal angle. This portion is ill-defined. On the under-side, the pattern of the wings much resembles that of D. Taxila, but the transverse streak of fore-wing is longer than in that species (judging from Bremer's figure), and the streak on the hind-wing is distinctly an- gulated in the form of a W, which does not appear to bo the case in the allied species.
170 [January,
AmBLTPODIA JAPONICA, sp. 710V.
Alis sicpra violaceo-cceruleis, late nigro-marginatis, anticis ad apicem suhfalcatis, posticis ecaudatis : alis omnihus stihtiis bninneis, strigis fasciisque saturatioribus.
Alar, exp., 1" &". Hab. Japoniam.
Nearly allied to A. Rama, KolL, but abundantly distinct tbere- from. The fore-wings are more produced at tbe apex tlian in A. JRama, and tbe hind- wings are completely destitute of a tail.
All the wings are above of a rich dark blue, widely black bordered, with only a trace of discocellular streaks. Under-side : brown, whitish along inner margin of fore-wing. Fore-wing : an oblong mark closing cell, a spot within cell, a spot below each of these, a transverse sub-macular fascia beyond middle, bent on first median nervure, a series of lunulas along the hind margin, and a line before the fringe darker brown. Sind-ioings : markings very indistinct : a basal row of three minute blackish dots, followed by a transverse band of hardly perceptible brown spots ; a rather large outlmed discocellular mark ; a transverse macidar baud, the spots composing which (except the two nearest the costa) are only outlined with dai'ker ; and a sub-marginal row of crescents, edged interiorly near anal angle by greyish-blue scales. Fringe eliiniug brown. All the dark markings of the under-side are faintly and very nar- rowly edged with lighter brown.
Libythea Lep if a, 'Moove. — Cannot be distinguished from Himalayan examples.
Neptis aceris, Lep. — Cannot be separated from the European species.
JEuripus Charonda, Hew.
E. japonica, Feld. {Diagoras, Hew.).
Argynnis Sagana, Doubl., Hew.
A. Ella, Brem.
A. Laodice, Pall., var. japonica, Men.
A.pallescens, Butl. ? — I am somewhat doubtful about this species, which I am almost inclined to regard as a variety of A. Adippe, AV". V. The two specimens now before mo {,^) are much larger and more richly coloured than Mr. Butler represents his A. pallescens, and in- deed, agree more closely in some respects with his A. vorax (Shanghai), especially in the shape of the fore-wings, but they possess the three sub-apical silver spots on the under-side of fore-wing, mentioned as one of the points in which A. pallescens differs from A. vorax. Pro- bably both these forms are local varieties of A. Adippe.
Pyrameis indica, Herbst.
P. cardui, Linn. — I have not seen Japanese specimens.
Vanessa Glauconia, Motsch. — Appears to me only a local form of V. Charonia, Drury.
J875.] 171
V. xanthomelas, W. V.
V. c-aiireiim, Linn.
Lethe SiceJis, Hew.
'Neope Ooschkevitschi, M6n.
Satyrus Phcedra, Linn., var. hipunctatus, Motsch.
Ypthima Argus, Butl. ?.
Mycalesis Gotama, Moore.
M. Perdiceas, Hew.
Tyrgus maculatusJ''M.en.
Daimio, ge7i. nov.
Antenna cosfm medium snperantes, gracillimcB, clavd, fusiformi, hamatd. Palpi sat breves, squamosi, artictdo tiltimo distincto.
I have very briefly characterised ttis genus, which only contains, at prcBcnt, a single species, D. TetJiys, Men. Hitherto this insect has been associated doubtfully with Pyrgus (sect. Erynnis) or with Niso- niades, but it differs considerably from both in structure. The an- tennre are long and very slender, and terminate in a gradually formed hooked fusiform club. They are provided with a tuft of hair at the base. The palpi have the second joint covered beneath with squamous scales, whilst the terminal joint is scantily clothed with short hairs. The fore-wings of the male appear to be destitute of the costal fold found both in Pyrgus and Nisoniades.
D. Tetliys, Men.
Nisoniades montanus, Brem.
PampJiila Dara, KoU. ? — I am doubtful about the identity of the Japanese insect with this Himalayan form ; but Indian examples in Brit. Mus. (so named) come very close to those sent by Mr. Pryer.
Pamphila titeea, sp. nov. (?).
Alis suprd, hrunneis, basin versus (preesertim posticisj fusco-pilosis, anticis via- culi), sub-apicali pellucidd. tripartitd, maculd discocellulari pellucidA super alteram magnam quadratam, maculA pallide albo-Jlavescente subopacd in venam stib -median am, macul'lque pellucidd minore inter ramos viedianos superiores. Post ids immaculalis.
Subtus alis anticis brunneis, cost<% apiceque ochraceis, maculis ut in paginA su- periore, strig^lque pellucidiX obliquA maculas quadratam sub-medianamque attingente. Posticis ochraceis, maculis novem albis hrunneo-marginatis,conspicuis. Ciliis albis.
Alar, exp., 1" 7'". llab. Japoniam.
A distinct and well marked species. P. guttata, Brem., Grey.
172 tJanuaiy,
Pamphila vaeia, sp. nov. (?).
(J . Alls supra hrunneis, anticis margine exteriore reciiusculd, maculis qiiattior minimis fund in celluld elongatd). Posticis immacidatis. Alls siiltus ochraceia {anticis ad marginem interioreni brunneisj , venis nigris, anticis maculis duahus disco- cellularibus (inferiore majore), alteris duahus in regions exteriore, macuhx sub-apicali tripartiid, linedque anteciliari nigrd. Posticis maculd obsoletd basali, macuhi inter ramos sub-costales sub-Jlavd, alteris duahus inter ranios media nos, linedque anteciliari nigrd. Ciliis albis, ad apicem anticarum obsolete nigro-maculatis.
? . Alls anticis fmargine exteriore convexdj maculis conspicuis {dudbus disco- cellularibus) maculd sub-apicali tripartitd, alteris duabus in regione exteriore, stri- gdque minimd super marginem interiorem. Posticis immaculatis. Subtus ut in mare. Ciliis albis, ad apicem anticarum nigro-maculatis.
Alar, exp., $ , 1" 4'" ; $ , 1" 6'". Rab. Japoniam.
I believe that the insects above described may be sexes of one species, on account of the similarity of the markings of the under-side. It is, however, possible that they are specifically distinct. Only one male has fallen under my observation, but two females now before me differ somewhat on the under-side of the hind-wing, one of them possessing an additional spot between the costal vein and first sub- costal neiwule. There is a tendency in both sexes towards the forma- tion on the under-side of both wings of a sub-marginal row of yellow spots.
I have described the hind- wing as spotless above, but in both the females there is an appearance of a very minute central spot. I think, however, that this is accidental, and has been caused in the process of setting.
Pamphila pellucida, sp. nov. (?).
Alis supra brunneis, alho-maculatis : anticis maculis duahus discocellularibus super alteram exteriorem magnam quadratam, maculd sub-apicali tripartitd, alteris duabus inter maculas sub-apicalem et quadratam, strigdque parvd in vend sub- mediand {maculis omnibus pellucidis). Posticis maculis quatuor pellucidis, fasciam brevem Jbrmantibus.
Subtus, alis oc7iraceo-b runnels, anticis ad marginem interiorem nigro-fuscis, maculis ut in pagind siiperiore. Ciliis albis.
Alar, exp., 1" 9'". Sab. Japoniam.
Allied to P. guttata, Brem., Grey, but sufficiently distinct. The spots on the hind-wing are arranged in a curious alternate manner, the first and third being nearer the hind margin than the second and fourth.
The above notes relate only to insects in my own collection, and do not pretend to form anything like a complete list of the butterflies of Yokohama. I believe that Mr. Pryer is now engaged in the com- pilation of such a list, to the appearance of which I look forward with much interest.
Beckenham, Kent : November, 1874:.
i
18T5. 173
BRITISH SEMIPTEEA—ADDITIO'ltiAh SPECIES.
BY J. W. DOUGLAS ANB JOHN SCOTT.
front iniied from page 147.^
TINGIDINA. TINGIDIB^.
ORXnOSTIHA MACHOPnTDALMA.
Ortkosfim macrophfhrilma, Fieb., Ent. Monogr., 49, pi. 4, fig. 4 (1844) ; J. Salilb., E. M. Mag., x, 243, 4 (1874). pusiJIa, Fieb., Eur. Hem., 131, 8 (1861), ? EaU. „ cylindricornis, Thorns., Opusc, iv, 401, 4 (1871).
Undeveloped form. — Broad-ovate, reticulate, dingy light brown.
A7itr7i)icp black, third joint cylindrical, Bcarcely thickened at the apex.
Pronotum : hood short, transverse, rhomboidal ; side margins broad,
with 2^ rows of meshes, circumference rounded. Elytra: sutural area
with 2 rows, discoidal cell with 4 rows, exterior area with 3 to 4
indistinct rows, and the margin with one row of meshes.
Jlead black ; the two spines on the crown short, stout, slightly divergent, black,
brown at the apex. Antennce black j the long third joint cylindrical, very
slightly thickened towards the apex ; fourth stout, short-fusiform, thickly
clothed with fine long hairs. Eyes dark ferruginous. Host rum yellowish-brown ;
rostral channel exteriorly broadly pale yellowish.
Thorax — -pronotum short-suhcordate, anterior half black, punctured ; hood pale brownish, with dark reticulation, short, convex, transverse, rhomboidal, projecting but little over the head, obscurely carinate, with irregular small reticulate fovefe, of which there are three to four in the front row, two to tlirce in the second, and one in the third, on each side of the blackish keel ; side margins reflexcd transparent, broad, circumference rounded (the anterior and posterior angles being broadly rounded off), with two entire rows of transverse, long-oval meshes, seven or eight being in the outer, and six in the inner one, and between the rows, on the anterior half only, one or two small, irregular cells, the divisional lines black ; the three discoidal keels deep, transparent, the middle one deepest, straight, and reaching on to the hood, with six to seven right-angled meshes, the side keels not so deep, sub-parallel, abruptly shortened in front, with five to six meshes, similar to those of the middle keel ; scutellum process short, pale brownish, foveate posteriorly exterior to the side keels. Elytra with foveate reticulation, four rows of meshes in the discoidalcell,of which latter the margins are much raised ; two rows in the sutural area, and tliroe to four in the exterior at the widest part ; side margins reflexcd, transparent, narrow, with one row of sub-quadrangular meshes. Sternum black, finely punctured ; prosternum anter- iorly, metasternum posteriorly broadly, and base of coxeo less distinctly, pale yellowish. Legs — coxcb and thighs pitchy-black, paler at base and apex ; tili(B and /(/rs/ yellowish-brown, the apex of the latter piocous.
Abdomen black. Length li line.
The synonymy is extremely confused. Eieber, in the Eur. Hem., 131, 8 (ISGl), says that his O. macr(q}hthalma=^Tingis jnisilla, Eall., and in Wien. Ent. Monats., vii, r)6 (1863), Q.(\(\.^=Monanth.i(i cinerea
174 [January,
rior, iiec Fieb., O. cinerea, Pieb., being Tingia nigrina, Fall.,=ilf. intermedia, Flor (the last, however, ie reckoned by Tliomson as=0. plaiycUla, Eieb., vide E. M. Mag., x, 187, 2, and 243, 2). Thomson, Opusc. Ent., iv, 400, 3, says that T. ptisilla, Fan.,=0. pusilla, rieb.,= T. nigrina, Fall. ; he takes no notice of O. macrophtliahna, Fieb., but describes the species as new, under the name of O. cylindricornis.
Dr. J. Sahlberg has kindly sent me exponents of O. viacropMhalma and O. nigrina, Fall., which appear to be distinct species, the former having black antenna?, and only 2 rows of reticulation on the sutural area of the elytra ; the latter having the antennae thinner, and the 2nd joint reddish-yellow, and the elytra with 3 rows of reticulation on the sutural area, both being otherwise very much alike. It seems, therefore, that, as there is no doubt our species is O. macrophthahna, Fieb., the only safe way at present is to adopt this name, leaving the synonymy to be investigated hereafter.
A single example of the undeveloped form, from the collection of the late Mr. T. J. Bold, was taken by Mr. J. Hardy, in moss on Cheviot, in August. It is the species recorded as O. cervina in the " Natural History Transactions of Northumberland and Durham," p. 354, 24 (1872), as I was informed by Mr. Bold.
ANTHOCOEINA. ANTKOGOBIBM.
PlESTOSTETHUS rOEillCETOEITM.
Antliocoris formicetorum. Boh., Oef. k. Yet. Ak. Forh., 158, 23 (1844). Xylocoris formiceticola, Sahib., Geoc. Fenn., 82, 6 (1848). Xylocoris formicetoriim, Bar., Ent. Zeits., i, 195 (1858). Piezostethus formicetorum, Fieb., Eur. Hem., 139, 2 (1861).
Pitchy-black, shining, finely pubescent ; elytra dingy whitish ; legs stout, dingy whitish.
Head: middle lobo pale ; antenncB delicately pilose, Ist joint thickest, piceous, 2nd less thick, dingy whitish on the basal half, the rest fusco-piceous, 3rd and 4th thin, fusco-piccous.
Thorax — pronotum pitchy-black, faintly punctulate, more strongly posteriorly, covered with very fine short pubescence. Scutelliim concolorous with the ^jrono- tum, in the middle a wide fovea. Elytra, claviis, and corittm dingy whitish, clothed with fine, short, pale hairs, claims inner and posterior margins with a piceous line, eoriiim shaded with fuscous posteriorly. Membrane ample, hyaline, iridescent, the neuration difficult to see. Legs strong, dingy whitish ; thighs infuscated ; posterior tibi(^ with stout, projecting hairs; tarsi: last joint piceous.
Abdomen black, beneath finely pilose. Length -J line.
Found by Dr. Buchanan White at Braemar, in nests of Formica
ritfa, a similar habitat to that in wliich it was first taken by Boheman. Lee : November, 1874.
1375. . 175
NOTES ON THE HABITS OF CICADA GIGAS.
BY GERVASB F. MATHBW, RN., F.L.S., &c.
After lying for a week off Panama, and nearly five milea from the shore, we were not at all sorry on the afternoon of the 27th February, 1874, to raise our anchor, and, favoured by the afternoon breeze, drop down under sail to the island of Tobago, where we arrived at six o'clock and took up a position within a convenient distance of the landing place. Soon afterwards, while standing on deck admiring the beauties of the island with its immense profusion of tropical trees and shrubs, and the varied hue of their foliage, I suddenly heard, clear and shrill, through the evening air, a whistle, as distinct as that of a loco- motive, and turned at once and looked in the direction from whence it came, expecting to see a steamboat or the chimney of some factory on shore, but nothing of the kind was visible. The whistling continued more or less until sunset, when it gradually ceased. Upon enquiring of one of the natives what this was caused by, he informed me it was the cry of the " tree locust," and, being unacquainted with any locust capable of producing such a noise, I determined to work out the history of the creature during our stay off the island, and as we were there for just a month, I had a pretty good opportunity of so doing. In the first place, I of course soon found out that the whistling was created, not by a " locust," but by a Cicada, although it was some days before I was actually able to capture an individual, on account of the individuals that were out when we first arrived at the island frequenting the topmost boughs of the loftiest trees. More- over, they were not at that time nearly so numerous as they afterwai'ds became, for, before we left, on the 24th March, they were out in great numbers, and had also, to a certain degree, altered their habits, and were often to be seen flying near the ground, or sitting on trunks of trees within easy reach, especially just before dusk or when the weather was at all damp and gloomy.
The first day I went on shore, although I heard them in the trees above me, I could not see them, and it was only when they became more plentiful that they seemed to move about much, and I was able t« capture a few and note their habits. This creature, considering its size, is gifted Avith a wonderfully powerful and peculiar voice — if I may so term it. Let my reader suppose he is standing in some secluded spot in a forest with lofty trees all round him. There is not a breath of air stirring, and hardly a sound, save, perhaps, the hum of a wandering bee, the whirr of a passing humming-bird, or the rustle of a lizard amongst the dead leaves, to interrupt the oppressive stillness
"[76 [Jannarv,
o£ a tropical afternoon. Suddenly, from right above, yon hear one or two hoarse, monotonous erics something like the croak of a tree-frog, and, looking upwards, wonder what it can be, but wait a moment, this is merely a signal, for the next minute everywhere above and around you these croaks are repeated in rapid and increasing succession until they merge into a long shrill whistle almost exactly similar to the whistle of a first-rate locomotive ; this continues for nearly half a minute, and then abruptly terminates, and everything for a short time becomes as still as before, but presently, similar cries will be heard in the far distance, as if in reply to those which have just died away overhead. This whistling pierces one's ears to such a degree that its vibrations can be felt long after it has ceased.
These Cicadas must be able to keep time with marvellous regularity, for the noise they make, and it really cannot be called by any other name, is evidently the combined efforts of a whole colony, although a single insect is able to produce a very shrill cry. I kept a few in confinement several days in the hope that I might be able to observe them while in the act of whistling, but they remained silent in a most obstinate manner, and could only be prevailed on to croak when they were touched or otherwise annoyed. One day, however, while shooting humming-birds, I heard a Cicada in full whistle on a neighbouring cocoa-nut tree, and upon looking in the direction from whence the cries proceeded, observed the creature on the trunk of the tree, about fifteen feet from the ground. It was then silent, but in the course of a few moments it began its short hoarse cries, and, while so doing, remained perfectly motionless ; but, as soon as the whistling commenced, it raised its abdomen, and, with a slightly tremulous movement, walked steadily backwards until its song had ceased, when it halted : I then fired at it with my little walking-stick giu\ and brought it down. It was a fine specimen, and none the worse for two or three dust shot through its thorax.
These insects frequent by preference trees growing in ravines where the soil is generally soft and damp, and in which their larvje and pup.^c find no difiiculty in burrowing. When the latter are full grown and ready for their last transformation, they emerge from the ground and crawl about four or five feet up the trunk of a tree, when they firmly fix themselves to the bark by means of their powerfully hooked fore tibia). In a short time the pupa-case splits down the middle of the back, and the perfect creature walks out. Trees pos- sessing a rough bark are usually selected, and on some I noticed many dozens of these empty cases. The flight of the mature Cicada is
1875.] 177
abrupt, rapid, and by no means graceful ; and it does not appear to bave tbe power of controlling itself wben on tbc wing, for I bave often seen it fly in an insane manner against tbe trunk of a tree, a brancb, or any otber object tbat may be in its line of fligbt ; and wben it bas performed its journey without any accident, it aligbts abruptly and awkwardly. As a rule, bowever, it does not attempt to fly to any great distance at a time.
Difference of temperature affects tbem considerably, for in bot sultry weatber tbey were most vociferous, wbereas wben it w^as (com- paratively speaking) cool and breezy tbey were abnost silent. I did not observe any of tbe females in tbe act of oviposition.
H. M. S. "Eritannia," Dartmouth : 14th December, 1874.
NOTES ON CICINBELIDJE AND CARABIDJE, AND DESCRIPTIONS OF NEW SPECIES (No. 19).
BY H. W. BATES, P.L.S., <&c.
ScAEiTES (B[aplotrachelus) POLTPLEUEUS, sp. n.
Latus, oblong o-ovatus, viodice convexus, niger, suh-opacus ; ihorace hawfo, laterihus utrinque bashi versus paid ul urn siniiatis; elyfris ovatis, iitrinque costis 8 Icdvihus (octava marginali acuiissima) interstitiis granuJatis, striato-pv/nctulatis. Long. 17 lin.
Ratber more ovate in form tban H. 7ioIcop7eurus and patruelis, and differing conspicuously in tbe sculpture of tbe elytra. On eacli elytron tbere are seven narrow, sligbtly raised and smooth lines, be- sides tbe very strongly raised carina of tbe 8tb interstice ; tbe sutural and 7tb lines are less distinct tban tbe others, and all terminate before the apex ; tbe broad interstices between tbe raised lines arc minutely granulate and opaque, as is also the apical surface, and tbere are traces of two rows of small punctures down each interstice. Tbe bead is of tbe same form as in II. patruelis ; but the mandibles are nearly smooth. Tbe thorax is of a half-moon shape, twice as broad as long, with advanced anterior angles ; but it is not regularly rounded behind, tbe sides being obliquely sinuated, and tending to form a rather dis- tinct basal lobe ; the anterior transverse line unites at tbe apical angles with tbe marginal sulcus.
Caffraria (Mr. Gerrard) ; four examples.
SCARITES (IlAPLOTRACnELTJS) LATESULCATUS, S^). 11.
Angusfior, niger, mimis nitidus ; mandihulis supra mullicarinntis.
178 [January,
vix striafis ; thorace transversim quadrato, bast paululum late lobafo ; elytris ovatis, sulcis septem inodice impressis transversim rugosis, cari- ndque validd laterali. Long. 15 lin.
Much narrower than the allied species ; dull black, slightly shining. Mandibles with the usual longitudinal carinas (four on the right mandible) much more strongly pronounced than in H. liolco- pleurus and polgpleurits ; the oblique strisD moderately distinct. Tho- rax rather longer and narrower (6 millim. long, 9^^ millim. broad), with more parallel sides ; but hind angles much rounded, with a very short but distinct broad basal lobe. Elytra rather narrower than the thorax, elongate-ovate ; marked each with seven broadish furrows, becoming gradually deeper from the suture to the side, and roughened with transverse wrinkles ; none of them quite reach the apex, where the surface is even and minutely coriaceous. The lateral carina projects throughout beyond the margin, and conceals it when viewed from above.
Caffraria (Mr. Gerrard) ; two examples.
ScAEiTEs (Haplotbacheltjs) punctttligee, sp. n.
Elongato-subovatus, niger, obscurus, modice nitidus; elytris punctalo- sfriatis, striis exterioribusprofundius impressis, interstitio septimo punctis magnis setiferis. Long. 10 lin.
Similar in form to H. cctpicola, but of a duller black, and distinguished further by the sharp lateral carina, which, however, does not overtop the margin on the apical half of the elytra. The striae are all dis- tinctly punctulate, and the interstices convex, but they become blended before the apex, where the surface is rugulose ; the 7th interstice (be- fore the carina) has a row of long setiferous punctures, and the 3rd has two large punctures near the apex. The mandibles are peculiar, in having the longitudinal carinae effaced. The thorax is nearly semi- lunate, the sides nearly parallel, and the base is broadly and angularly rounded ; the anterior transverse line is very strongly impressed. The anterior tibia) have two denticulations above the third dijiitation. Graham's Town, S. Africa ; one example.
SCARITES (HAPLOTBACHELrS ?) ATEOPIS, sp. n.
Stib-cglindricus, niger, nitidus ; tliorace quadrato, postice valde ro- tnndnto ; elytris subtil iter striatis, striis exteriorihusprofundius impressis ibique interstitiis angustioribus, interstitio tertio 4<-punctato, octavo latissimo, l<svi. Long. 10| lin.
Eesembling in general form and in the shape of the thorax Scarites
1875.1 179
inermis (Chaud.), rugiceps and others of the same section, but differing from the genus Searites by the obtuse and rounded tip of the maxilla?, and in the relatively short penultimate joint of the maxillary palpi, in which characters (and the untoothed thoi'ax) it agrees with Uaplotra- chelus. It differs from this genus in the absence of raised carina along the margins of the elytra ; but the exterior edge of the 7th stria) is slightly raised throughout, and this may be considered as the carina in a rudimentary form. The general colour is deep glossy-black. The head much resembles that of IT. eapicola, the mandibles are strongly carinated and striated, but the furrow between the two principal carinse is simply granulate at the base. The front of the head is strongly striated, the eyes are encased behind in an orbit which is at least as prominent as the eye. The thorax is of the more elongate form of a. i?iermis ; it has a marginal row of seven or eight setiform punctures on each side ; the anterior transverse impression is very sharply marked. The elytra have each seven fine striae, punctui*ed only at the apex ; the dorsal interstices are plane, the lateral ones slightly convex and nar- rower ; the third has four or five large setiferous punctures, the first very near the base, the second in the middle ; the eighth interstice is unusually broad ; it is steeply sloping to the margin and very smooth, except in the marginal groove, which has a few fine granules mixed with usual row of larger ones. The shoulders of the elytra have no trace of the usual tooth, and are rounded to the pedicel ; the base has a few large granules. The anterior tibia? have four denticulations above the third digitation ; the middle tibia? are unispinose. Caffraria (Mr. Gerrard) ; one example.
SCABITES (GlTPTOGEUS) INSCTJLPTTJS, Sp. U.
Elongaio-oblonrjus, depressus, niger ; capite onagno, Jcevi ; mandi- hiiUs vix striatis ; maxilUs ohtusis ; pa1p)is articulo p)(^nultimo multo hreviori ; tliorace post ice dentafo, hasi valde lobato ; elytris suh-paral- lelis, dorso seriatim fovcolutis, utrinque tricostatis, et laterihus carinatis.
Long. 15 1 lin.
A species differing in essential points from all genera or groups hitherto defined. It agrees best with the typical TcenioIobi,hut differs in the blunt apices of the maxillae. Trom Haplotraehehis, Dgscherus, &c., it differs in the form and dentation of the thorax. The antennae are peciiliar also, in being of unusual length and stoutness, the ex- terior joints being elongate and robust. The mentum is transverse- quadrate, with the side lobes broad and truncated, and shorter than the central tooth ; its surface is sprinkled with granules, and there are
ISO [January,
only slight traces of the central and lateral carinse ; the cheeks flank- ing the mentum are also unusually short, and are strongly sinuated. The mandibles are normal, except that the inner edges do not form distinct conical teeth. The frontal furrows are well marked, but there are scarcely any traces of striae ; the posterior orbits project further than the eyes. The thorax is broader than the head, the anterior angles advanced and acute, the sides narrowing very abruptly and with a strong sinuation to the basal lobe, which is almost rectangular and sinuated in the middle ; the surface is flattish and smooth, with the anterior transverse line impressed only (and very vaguely) near the angles. The elytra are oblong and depressed, with slightly oblique and toothed shoulders ; the surface is marked by rows of large punc- tures, extending quite to the apex, and on each elytron three narrow, strongly raised lines, besides the lateral carina, which completely over- tops the more than vertical and smooth epipleurse ; punctures and ridges arise aHke from a straight basal ridge, from which there is a vertical declivity, strongly granulated, to the pedicel ; the suture is not raised, and the three ridges are uninterrupted, except near the apex. The anterior tibiae have no denticulation above the third digi- tation ; the middle tibiae have two external spines, the upper one short and stout.
The many well-marked peculiarities of this fine species necessitate the formation of a group (equivalent to Haplotracliehis, Tceniolobus, &c.) for its reception, to which the name Qlyptogrus may be applied. It is evidently allied to S. ghjpticus, Perty (erroneously placed as a synonym of S. excavatus, Kirby), but the elytral sculpture differs much from Perty's description.
Bahia (Edwyn C. Eeed) ; two examples. (To he continued).
DESCRIPTIONS op NEW SPECIES or EUMORPSUS & CORYNOMALUS. BY THE EEV. H. S. GOEHAM.
Genus EFMOEPHUS, Weber (Sec. C, a, Gerst.).
EUMOEPHUS ANDAMAJTEXSIS, Sp. 71.
Ohlongus, nigro-picacs, sub-opacus, elytris sub-paralleJis maculis duahus transversisJlavis,femorihus (bast exceptd) testaceis.
Long. lin. 6, (^ ? .
Mas : tihiis anticis dente infra medium distant e, intermediis dente parvo triangulari, suh-apicali,armatis ; his apice incurvatis. Fosmina : elytris margine ad apicem prodiictd.
18T5.] 181
Head finely aud thickly punctured between the eyes, palpi black. Thorax nearly opaque, disc even, the middle channelled throughout its length, hind angles acute, and not much more produced in the male than in the female ; sides sinuous, narrowed towards the front. Elytra a little shining, very finely and obsoletely pimc- tured, and finely coriaceous between the pimctures, of a dull leaden black, the usual yellow spots are transverse and rather irregular in shape, the hinder one being more quadrate than the front one : their sides are almost parallel, but slightly widened (in the male) tUl near the apical spot, the apex of each is rounded separately. In the female the sides ai-e narrowed from the middle, and the apical portion of the elytra is depressed and produced in a manner I do not observe in any other species of the genus, but which (in a less degree) may be seen in convexieollis, $ . Antennas black, rather long. Legs pitchy-black, apical half of the femora testaceous.
Hah., A-ndamau Isles.
This Bpccies comes in the same section as pulcJiripes, Gerst., but cannot be confounded witb it. It is considerably larger, the legs are differently coloured, the tooth on the anterior tibiae is larger and stands out, and is also helow the middle, not above as in that species.
Genus CORYNOI^IALTJS (Dej.), Erichson.
COETNOMAlirS T^DIFEE, Sp. 71.
Niger, opacus, elytris obsolete ptmctatis, nigris, vel nigro-ccsruleis, tliorace quadrato ; antennis clavd iota testaced. Long. lin. 4, $ .
Head slightly shiuing, with a few scattered punctures, and with the mouth- organs entirely black. Thorax hardly wider than long (if the anterior angles are included), opaque, disc uneven, the usual impressed sulci and basal line, and a chan- nel in the middle reaching neither base nor front margin. Elytra opaque, black (in my specimen with a faint greenish tint), with scattered, obsolete and flat-bottomed punctures, margin with larger ones, sub-quadrate, and very convex ; under-side of body and legs shining, entii-ely black. Antenute black, with the club (which is clothed with a fine pubescence) wholly testaceous.
Hah., Peru. In my own collection, from Deyrolle.
This curious Corynomalus is unlike any species in the genus ex- cept tarsatus, Er., of which I thought it might bo a variety. The examination of a specimen of tarsatus brought by Mr. Edward Bartlctt from Peru, enables me to describe it as quite distinct. From tarsatus it is readily distinguished by having the tarsi black, and the loliole of the club of the antennic red, as well as by its general colour. I have, I believe, seen it in other collections with the elytra bluer than in my specimen.
Shipley : December, 1874.
182 [J.inuary,
DESCRIPTIONS OF SIX NEW SPECIES OF BUTTERFLIES FROM SOUTH AMERICA, WEST AFRICA, AND BORNEO.
by w. c. hewitson, f.l.s.
Heliconia Lokgaeena.
Upper-side : black. Both wings crossed near the outer margin by a series of longitudinally bifid pale yellow spots, irregular on the anterior wing, where it commences near the costal margin by three spots ; regular on the posterior wing, where it is composed of seven spots. Anterior wing with a large scarlet spot from the base, divided into three parts by the median nervure and its first branch ; an oblique band of three pale yellow spots at the middle, the first spot near the costal margin trifid, the third bifid, all more or less irrorated with brown. Posterior wing crossed near the base by a broad scarlet band.
Under-side : as above, except that the base of the costal margin of the anterior wing is orange ; the base of the posterior wing yellow, succeeded by orange.
Exp., 3to inch. Hab., New Granada.
I am indebted to Mr. James Backhouse of York for this very beautiful species. It belongs to the Secalesia group.
Heliconia Gttk^sia. Upper-side : black. Both wings crossed near the outer margin by a series of pale yellow spots ; irregular in size on the anterior wing, regular, seven in number, and caudate on the posterior wing. Anterior wing with a trifid spot at the middle of the costal margin, a larger trifid spot below this, and a pyrif orm spot between the first and second branches of the median nervure all yellow. Posterior wing crossed near the base by a broad band of orange.
Under-side : as above, except that the base of the costal margin of the anterior wing is yellow ; the base of the posterior wing orange.
Exp., 3ttj inch.
Also of the Secalesia group. I purchased it at the sale of the Norris collection, and I do not know its locality.
lOLAUS CXTJEIS.
Upper-side : ^ , cerulean-blue. Anterior wing with the costal margin rufous-brown ; tho apical half dark brown, the inner margin convex. Posterior wing with two tails ; the apex brown, the outer margin black, narrow.
1875.] 183
Under-side : white ; both wings crossed beyond the middle by a linear brown band, and by a sub-marginal very indistinct rufous band. Anterior wing with the outer margin rufous. Posterior wing with the lobe and caudal spot black, broadly bordered with orange, [;the outer margin black.
Exp., It'u inch. Hab., Fernando Po (Eogers).
Much like some of the Indian species.
In my own collection.
LiPHTEA YiNINGA.
Upper-side : $ , indigo-blue. Anterior wing pointed at the apex, sinuated below, convex on the outer margin, the costal and outer mar- gins dark brown, broad. Posterior wing angular at the middle of the outer margin, which is dark brown and narrow.
Under-side : grey-brown, paler towards the outer margins.
Erp., l-in inch. Hab., Fernando Po (Eogers),
In my own collection.
Adolias CEinESPOiis. Ujiper-side : $ , pale rufous-bx'own, tinted with lilac beyond the middle. Both wings crossed at the middle by a common band of white spots, smaller towards the inner margin of the posterior wing : both crossed beyond the middle by a band of hastate black spots bordered below with white ; the outer margin of both dark brown. Anterior wing with a bro^vn spot bordered with black at the end of the cell : the costal margin and apex broadly dark brown marked by a small white spot between the transverse bands.
Under-side : as above, except that it is much paler and pearly- white beyond the middle ; that the anterior wing has a round spot within the cell ; that the posterior wing has a smaller spot within the cell, and a spot bordered with brown at the end of the cell.
Exp., 3vo inch. Hab., Borneo.
In the collection of Henley Or. Smith, Esq.
In form like A. Tcuta, but quite unlike any known species.
Eegolis Actisaxes. Upper-side : ^ , dark rufous-brown. Both wings crossed near the base and the middle by red-brown bands, bordered on both sides with dark brown ; both crossed beyond the middle by lunular dark browTi spots, bordered on both sides by a linear baud of brown ; both with a sub-marginal line of black. Anterior wing with two lines in the cell, and two at the end of the cell, dark brown.
184 LJaiiuary.
Under-side : as above, except as the transverse bands are suf- fused witli dark brovrn, and that the anterior wing has a sub-apical white spot.
Female like the male but paler, with a white sub-apical spot on the anterior wing.
Exp., 2to inch.
In my own collection, from the Gaboon (Rogers) and Camcroons (Rutherford) .
The largest known species in this genus.
Oatlands, Weybridge :
November, 1874.
HEMIPTEEA: SYNONYMIC NOTES.
BEETTINA. Bebtttis minor, H.-Schf.
Berytns commutatus (Fieb.), D. & S., Brit. Hem., i, 158, 7 (1865).
The latter was retained as distinct in deference to tlie views of Fieber, but wo now believe, as indeed we hinted at the time it was described {pp. cit. p. 160), that it is only B. minor.
LTG^IKA. Deymus pilicoenis.
Pachymerus pilicornis, Muls., Opusc, i, 118 (1852). Rhyparochromus pilicornis, D. & S., Brit. Hem., i, 202, 1 (1865). Brymus lattis, D. & S., Ent. Mo. Mag., viii, 25 (1871).
When the insect was described under the last name, its identity with Mukant's species was overlooked, but it was rightly determined as a Drymits. The original example was returned to us by Fieber as P. pilicornis, Mulsant.
Lampeoplax picErs.
Pachymerus piceus, Flor, Ehyn. Liv., i, 251, 12 (1860). Meyalonotus picetis, Fieb., Ent. Monats., vii, 55 (1863). Lamproplax Sharpi, D. & S., Ent. Mo. Mag., iv, 214 (1868).
The correctness of the suspicion expressed by us (Ent. Mo. Mag., iv, 265) tliat this species might prove to be Flor's P. picetis, is verified by Dr. J. Sahlberg, who writes to us, " Lamp. Sharpi agrees weU with Flor's Pachym. picetis, and appears "without doubt to be the same species."
Stethgteopis inoana, Fieb., Verb. k. k. Zool.-bot. GescUs., xx, 245, t. 5, fig. 8 (1870) ; D. & S., Ent. Mo. Mng., vi, 241 (1870), = Stygnocoris rusticus. Fall, D. & S., Brit. Hem., i, 214, 1 (1865).
The original specimen from which Fieber made his figure, and deduced the cha- racters of his genus Stethotropis, -proves to be only the macropterous form of Stygno- coris rusticus. The insect is altogether more robust than the ordinary brachypterous form, the pronotum especially differing in being more convex, scarcely constricted at the sides, and, therefore, more regularly trapezoidal, the antcunoB and legs are also darker in coloiur. Fieber's genus wiU not stand.
1875.] 185
IlYPKOriiiLUS, D. & S., Brit. Ilem., i, 208 (1865).
Tliis generic name having been employed before, Sypnolius ia now proposed as a substitute.
PACHTSIEEra.
In the Oef. k. vet. Ak. Forh., 57, 47 (1872), Professor Stal has revived the name Pachym^rus, St. F. & Serville, for a genus of LygcBina, but Amyot & Serville in their " Hist. nat. des Insectes — Hdmipteres," p. 253 (1843), expressly gave up the name created by St. Fargeau & Serville in the Enc. Meth., x, 322 (1827), because, as they Bay, of its previous employment by Latreille (1817) for a genus of Coleoptera, and they adopted Rhyparochromiis, Curtis, instead. Tlie name, however, appears to have been first used by Thunberg in 1805 for a genus of CurcuUonidce, and, if it is now to bo restored, it ought surely to bo given to some of its first owners, not being eligible for Uemiptera.
TINGIDIXA.
In the " Enumeratio Hemipterorum," iii, 122 (1873), Professor Stal has substi- tuted, on the gi'ound of priority, the generic name "Acaltpta," Westwood, Introd., ii, Syn. Gen., 121 (1840), for OBinoSTiEA, Fieb., Ent. Monog., 29 & 46 (1844), but this cannot stand, for Schouherr had employed Acali/ptus, in Curculionidm, in 1836.
CAPSINA. TEEATOConis SArxDKKSi, D. & S., Ent. Mo. Mag., v, 260, 2 (18G9), = T. Flori, J.
Sahib., Not. Siillsk. Fl. & Faun. Fenn. Forh., xi, 290, 79 (1870), teste J.
Sahlberg in litt. TTTTHrs INSIGKIS, D. & S., Ent. Mo. Mag., ii, 247, 1 (1866), = T.Jlaveolus, Eout.,
Not. Siillsk. Fl. & Faun. Fenn., xi, 323, 4, tab. 1, fig. 6 (1870). CONOSTETDCS SALlKtJS, J. Sahib., Not. Fenn. Fl. k Faun. Fenn., xi, 296, 116 (Jan.,
1870), = C. griseus, D. & S., Ent. Mo. Mag., vi, 242, 2 (Mar., 1870). LiTOSOMA BICOLOE, D. & S., Ent. Mo. Mag., iv, 267 (1868), = L, chloropterus,
Kirschb., Caps., 89, 121 & 156, 21 (1855). Our opinion as to this insect being distinct from L. chloropterus, Kirschb., was confirmed by Fieber, to whom we sent some males. Evidently he did not know this sex, and it is somewhat singular that Kirschbatun omitted in his description one of the principal characters of identity, namely, the dark streak down the clavus and inner margin of the corium. All the females we have taken in company with L. hicolor are certainly referable to L. chloropterus, in favour of which wo now sink the former name.
Maceocoleus Hardti, Bold, Nat. Hist. Trans., Northumberland and Durham, iv, 858, 69 (1872), = M. molHculus, Fall. Bold's specimens sent for confirmation of his species being distinct from M. Violliculus, were only the last named in very fine condition.
jLNTHOCORINA. PiEzosTExnrs cttrsitaxs.
Anthocoris cursitans, Fall., Ilem. Suec, 69, 6 (1829). Xylocoris rujipennis, L. Duf., Ann. Ent. Franco, ii,_106, 1 (1833). Xylocoris hicolor, Scholz, Arb. u. Veriind., 116, 2 (1847). Piezostethus rujipennis, D. & S., Brit. Hem., i, 501, 2 (1865). Piezostcthus cursitans, Kout., Oef. k. vet. Ak. Forh., 411, 3 (1871).
186 [Januaiy,
This amendment is made on the authority of Eouter, I. c, where the full synonymy is given.
CeEATOCOMBTJS COLEOrTEATTJS.
Anthoeoris coleoptrata, Zett., Act. Holm., 74, 24 (1819).
Bryocoris muscorum, Fall., Hem. Suec., 153, 3 (1829).
Ceratocomhtis muscorum, Fich., Eur. Hem., 143 (1861), D. & S., Brit. Hem.,
i, 514, 1 (1865). Ceratocombus coleoptratus, Rent., Oef. k. vet. Ak. Forh., 406, 1 (1871). Fallen, I. c, gives, as a synonym, Anthoeoris coleoptrata, Zett.? but Router, /. c, cites this name as the prior one without any doubt.
OCULATINA. Salda versus Acanthia.
In the Syst. Entom., 693, 159 (1775), Fabricius established the genus Acanthia, the first or typical species being Cimex lectularius, L., and he included fourteen other discordant species.
In the Ent. Syst., iv, 67, 211 (1794), he preserved the genus Acanthia and in- creased the number of species to 45, but still kept C. lectularius as the type.
But in the Syst. Rhyng., 112, 20 (1803), he restricted Acanthia to two species — lectularia, L., and hemiptera, Fab., and referred the species previously placed in the genus to the new genera Salda, Aradus, Syrtis, and Tingis ; and this arrangement has since been generally followed.
Professor Stiil, however, in his " Enumeratio Hemipterorum," iii, 148 (1873), has substituted the genus Acanthia, Fab., for Salda, Fab., but this is certainly in contravention of Fabricius' idea, and therefore cannot be adopted.
eedtjtina. Nabis ehioetoetjm.
Nalis ericetorum, Scholz, Arb. u. Verand, 113, 3 (1846), Ficb., Eur. Hem.,
160, 4 (1861), Rent., Ocf. k. vet. Ak. Forh., 76, 7 (1872). Nahis dorsalis, D. & S., Brit. Hem., i, 557, 4 (1865), nee L. Duf., Fieb., nee N.fuminervis, Dahlb., teste Renter, I. c.
Nabis pilosulus.
Nabis pilosulus, Ficb., Eur. Hem., 161, 7 (1861).
Nabis boops, Schiodto, Kroyer Nat. Tids., 3 ser., vi, 200, 147 (1867).
St''lia boops, Rent., Oef. k. vet. Ak. Forh., 95, 1 (1872). On this species Renter, I. c, has founded his genus Stalia, but, as it appears to us, there is not sufficient difference of structure to establish the genus. — J. W. Douglas & J. Scott, Lee : October, 1874.
Description of the larva, ^'c, of Anerastia lotella. — I am greatly indebted to the kindness of Mr. Charles Or. Barrett for the opportunity of figuring and describing larvED of this species, as well as their eases and cocoons, brought back by him from his visits to the coast of Norfolk, — vide E. M. M., vol. vii, p. 63.
The larva of this species resides in a tubidar case of considerable firmness, made with grains of sand spun together ; the specimens of cases that I had were irregu- lar in form, and varying in length from IJ to 2| inches ; the anterior portion of the case is rather attenuated at the mouth, but increases from thence in diameter to
187*.] 197
one-eighth of an inch, and occupies about a third (in some iuBtances hull) the entire length of the whole ; this ariterior portion is followed (sometimes at an abnipt angle) bj the middle part of the tube, which is about half-an-inch in length and five- sixteenths of an inch in diameter, its hinder end connected with a congeries or cluster of rather rounded and bulb-like terminal pouches, each of which is about one-eighth of an inch or little more in diameter ; these appendages add a length to the central part of the tube of from three-eighths to three-fourths of an inch ; the poiichca varying in number from three or four to eight or nine, and are stuffed full with frass, and sometimes appear in a biu-sthig condition ; they are of a pale sulphur-yellow colour, palest next the middle part of the case, which itself is the darkest and brownest portion of the whole construction.
These cases all lie more or less in a horizontal position, their mouths in con- nection with the plant stems of Ammophila arenaria, near the crown of the roots, on which part the larvse feed ; and the depth in the sand at which they may bo found varies from one inch to even three or four, as tlie surface shifts accoi'ding to the action of the wind ; and thus sometimes they are quite exposed to view, and at other times they are buried deep by the accumulations blown over them. So great are the ravages made by these little creatures, that a plant is frequently so hollowed out as even to bo killed.
The larva itself is about half-an-inch in length when fall-grown, moderately stout and cylindrical, but the foi'c-part of the back curves a little convexly down- wards to the head, and the hinder part tapers through the last four segments to the anal extremity ; the head is much smaller than the second segment, within which it is often partially withdrawn ; all the legs rather small in proportion, though perfectly developed. In colour it is of a pale rather subdued orange-yellow, the head palo reddish-brown ; down the back is a very faint reddish dorsal line, and there are two equally faint reddish transverse squarish bars on the back of each segment extending to the sub-dorsal region ; the spu-acles are of the ground colour, as arc also the polished plates on the second and anal segments ; a few soft and very fine pale hairs issue from either extremity, and from the usual tubercular situations on the body.
The larva, when about to pupate, leaves its abode, and spins 7iear its tube, but not in any way connected with it (unless apparently by mere accident), a dumpy tubidar cocoon of sand, smoothly lined with silk, half-an-inch in length, thick as a goose-qudl, tapering to an obtuse point at one end, abruptly and rather irregularly truncated at the other.
Mr. Barrett sent me the larvte on Juno 11th and 27th, — the moths appeared on June 29th, July 22nd to 21th, 1870.
Since the foregoing was written I have had the pleasure to receive from Professor Zeller much additional information regarding the habits oi Aneraslia lofella, as well as a translation by himself of his most able and interesting history of the insect published in the Isis for 1848, wherein it appears this species in Germany inhabits barren sandy places and hills, — " the moths sitting by day very closely to stalks of " grasses near the ground, and flying readily only in the evenings and mornings ;" — and the larva is found to feed commonly " on the tufts of Aira canescens, Festuca " ovina, and probably Calamagrostis epigejos and other grasses."
From the same source I learn that lotella has been more recently described by Dr. Kuhn as an insect destructive to rye, — no less than twenty acres of this cereal, in a sandy field at Hcrzbcrg in Saxony, having been nearly destroyed by it in 1869.
188 [January,
All the localities motioned by those continental entomologists are, of course, inland. In England, so far as I know at present, this species seems to be confined to barren sandy spots on the coast, saving the sandy fields more than twenty milea from the sea at Brandon in Suffolk, where Mr. Barrett found lotella quite at home ; but then he tells us that these said sandy fields were, according to geologists, " a "range of coast sands at a recent point of the post-glacial period."
Supposing these sandy localities in Germany to be of similar origin, lotella still holds its place as a littoral insect, though with a change of taste as to food-plant.— William Buckleb, Ems worth : November \lth, 1874.
Hozo to rear Bomlyx rulifrcm the larva. — I believe there are so many who, like myself, can recal numerous instances of failure in attempts to rear this Bomhyx from the larva, that I make no apology for offering an account of a method which has met with a very fair amount of success. I know there are other methods, which, perhaps, have succeeded as well ; we have heard of keeping the larvro quite toi-pid through the winter in an ice-house, of keeping them warm and quite dry at the back of a kitchen chimney, and I know by late friend, Mr. Dorville, had good success with his plan, which was to keep the larva) in a largish box, with the cover partly of wood and partly of perforated zinc ; this was half filled with peaty tufts of grass, &c., and kept all the winter, somewhat sheltered from wet, but otherwise open to the weather, so that in frost the larvse could bury themselves for warmth, and in open weather coidd come up and enjoy the sun. However, the plan I am about to describe, by permission of the Rev. E. T. Daubeny, Eector of Bcdhampton, Hants, differs from all the above, and may probably be found very convenient for some other Entomo- logists to follow ; it is good to have a choice of methods, that each may take the one suited to his circumstances.
In September and October, 1872, Mr. Daubeny collected seventeen larvae of B. rubi, and acting on the hint afforded him by the situation of their habitat, he resolved to fulfil the conditions he there observed as closely as circumstances would allow : and these were highly favourable for his purpose, with a verdant lawn, open and gently sloping towards the south, and at no gi-eat distance from the shore, but sheltered on the cast by a range of buildings, and from the north and west by a high wall and screen of trees ; here, on a slight eminence, by the roots of a Yucca, was the spot that suggested itself as best for perfect drainage, and exposure to the sim.
Accordingly, the larva> were all established together on the short turf under a garden hand-glass with a moveable top, the frame of the glass being sunk into the ground to a depth of about three inches to prevent escape, and they were fed with heather : — of course some pains were taken to keep their dwelling in a wholesome condition, and fresh heather was duly supplied until they had ceased to feed, and, indeed, even afterwards, at intervals, all through the winter, and this proceeding, together with an occasional shifting of the top of the glass, promoted ventilation and prevented mouldincss ; and opportunity was taken to notice that the larvae formed for themselves liibemacula in little cavities hollowed out in the turf close to the roots of the grass.
As spring came on, a few larvse began to appear on sunny days amongst the grass, which had grown almost too liigh for the hand-glass, and on the 21st of March, 1873, Mr. Daubeny determined on clearing it outj and while doing this, it struck
1575.] 189
him that some of the larvre still asleep on the damp earth ought to wake up, as the weather was bright and sunny, and thinking thej must have had enough moisture during the winter to prevent their bodies being reduced, he removed them to another sunny spot, and placed them again under the glass, but with a thiek piece of board imdemeath them to prevent any more evaporation ; a handful or two of short grasa was thrown in a heap upon the board, and the larvae now became lively and strong, basking in the sun's rays until the 21th of the montli, by which time most of them had disappeared beneath the grass, and four or five cocoons could just be discerned amongst it.
On the 28th I had the pleasure, myself, of seeing them, and felt mxich satisfaction in the inspection of the occupants of this grass, which had now become dry and matted together into a flattish mass thickly interspersed with the long, brown cocoons woven within it. On looking at the spot where they had wintered, I chanced to detect a very fine larva, which had escaped notice when the rest were removed, apparently just waked up and beginning to move, being not so far advanced as those wliich had already pupated : after this, no further trouble was taken with them, and the net residt was as follows : four larvae found dead before winter from ichneumons ; three dead in spring, without attempting to change ; two dead in pupae, one of them from having been disturbed in spinning ; and eight moths bred between April 29th and May 17th, namely, two males and six females. — Id., December 9fh, 1874.
Supplement to Haevesting Axts and Trap-door Spidbes ; by J. Teahernk MoGGEiDOE, F.L.S., P.Z.S. 8vo, pp. 157—304. London : L. Eeeve & Co., 1874.
Simultaneously with the announcement of the publication of this work appeared the notice of the death of its lamented author, at the early age of 32. Mr. Mog- gridge, owing to extremely delicate liealth, had, for several years, been compelled to pass the winter at Mentoue, where he died on the 24tli November. Although best known as an enthusiastic botanist (and tlie author of " Contributions to the Flora of Mentone"), he showed keen powers of observation in other departments; and, during the last few years of his life, he especially directed his attention to the habits of various species of ants and spiders that abounded in the vicinity of the place to which he was annually a forced exile. The results of these observations he published two years ago, and the present work is a supplement thereto. He has proved, we think incontestably, that the command to " go to the Ant, &c.," is not so meta- phorical as some commentators of Holy Writ, basing their opinions only upon the Ants of more northern regions, would have us to suppose. He found that in the genial climate of the Riviera, at least two species of the native Ants ilo store seeds of various plants, and have the means, by some process not yet satisfactorily ex- plained, of preventing their germination.
We have not space to quote from Mr. Moggridge's works, but heartily recom- mend them to the notice of our readers. His observations upon Trap-door Spiders are of the highest scientific interest, and the " Supplement " mainly relates to them, illustrated by plates from the author's drawings, with descriptions of the species by the Rev. O. Pickard Cambridge. One of the most curious facts is (liat some of these Spiders form " branched " nests, i. e., there are two surface openings, each furnished
190 iJaimai-y,
■with its characteristic " trap," the ohannola uniting at no great depth. One of the figures of such an arrangement gives the idea of a longitudinal section of the tubes of a binocular microscope.
Hundreds of our countrymen now resort every winter to the shores of the Medi- terranean, and it is to be deplored that so few of them seek to counteract the tedium of absence from home, and ill-health combined, by observations upon the prohfic natui-al history of the district : and however much we may rejoice that an English- man (perhaps wo ought to say, more correctly, a Welshman) has been the means of bringing so many interesting facts to light, we regret, none the less, that the native entomologists of the South of Europe should allow a foreigner to teach them the proper use of their eyes.
Entomological Society of London : 16tA November, 1874. — J. W. Dunning, Esq., M.A., F.L.S., Vice-President, in the Chair.
The following gentlemen were elected Subscribers to the Society, viz., R. E. Bull, Esq., 85, Milton Street, Dorset Square ; F. Fitch, Esq., Highbury New Park ; and H. D'Arcy Power, Esq., 8, Manor Terrace, CambeiTvell.
Mr. Higgins exhibited rare species of CetoniidcB fi'om Borneo, including Lomap- tera Iligginsii (O. Janson), the extraordinai-y dynastiform Westwoodia Howittii (Castlenau), and a smaller insect, which it had been suggested might be the female of this, but such a notion appeared very improbable.
Mr. Grut exhibited a collection of fine species of Lepidoptera, sent by Mr'. Grooch from Natal for determination.
The Rev. O. P. Cambridge sent notes on the curious spider's nest exhibited at the last meeting. It was unknown to him ; and but for the fad that Mr. Ward stated tliat the spider made a symmetrical (geometrical) web, he should have con- sidered it to bo the work of Agelena. He thought the sand was used to protect the eggs and young from the attacks of parasites. Mr. F. Smith reminded the meeting that the mud coating of the nest of Agelena brunnea did not preserve that species from parasites, as he had often bred species of Fezomachus from the nests, but he considered these latter were attacked before the outer coating of mud was added.
Mr. Champion exhibited rare species of British Coleoptera, including Apion Ityei (see ante p. 128) from the Shetlands, Abdera triguttata froin Aviemore, Ly- mexylon navale from Dunham Park, Manchester, Athous subfuscus from the Shet- lands, Sylvanus similis and Apion sanguineum from Esher.
South London Entomological Society. — The Third Annual Exhibition of this Society took place in St. Mary's Schools, Newington, by permission of the Managers, on Wednesday, December 9th, 1874. The room, though large, was incon- veniently crowded, upwards of 600 persons testifying to their interest in Entomology by inspecting the numerous cases of insects on view. As usual at these exhibitions, British Lepidoptcm occupied the largest space, the contributors being Messrs. Wellman, Farn, Allin, Barrett, Bodcn, Bolger, Chancy, Chitty, Cowley, Ficklin, Jones, Kennel, Lockyer, Lucas, Miller, Primmer, Tugwcll, Shearwood, Oldham, S. Webb, West, and WilUams. These gentlemen supplied nearly seventy cases of bred, rare, and local species, and many striking varieties. Lepidopterous laiTse and pupai were also well represented in Messrs. Wittijjk and Hoey's cases.
1875. 191
Messrs. Lockycr, Power, Richardson, and Shcarwood lent cases of brilliant exotio Lepidoptera, while Mr. Jenncr Weir's case of insects of this order containing specimens to illusti-atc " mimicry " excited great interest.
There was also a remarkably fine collection of Coleoptera, exhibited by jilessrs. Bryce, Bull, Champion, Marsh, and West.
Several other orders of insects were represented, as follows : — Mr. Ilillman con- tributed a case of galls, and a case of economic entomology, illustrating insects injurious to vegetation ; while Mr. Marsh supplied IchneumonidcB, and Mr. Power lent a case of anatomical dissections ; Mr. Bull showed Orthoptera, and Mr McLaclilan kindly lent four cases of brilliant exotic Neuroptera.
Microscopes added considerably to the extent of the exhibition. — J. P. B.
NOTES ON BRITISH TORTRICES. BY C. G. BAEEETT. {continued from p. 156). Since the notes upon Eupoecilia udana went to press, I liavo re- ceived the following communication from M. E. L. Eagonot of Paris. " M. Ferris has sent me several larva) (of tidanci) preserved in " spirits of wine, from whicli I take the following description : Length, " 8 mill. Bone colour or pale reddish-brown, the dorsal vessel darker, " ordinary spots concolorous, small, raised, shining. Head : plates on " the second and anal segments, and claspers, amber colour ; mouth " and ocelli dark brown. Body cylindrical, attenuated at each extremity, " living (as M. Ferris informs me) in the stems and petioles of the " leaves of Alisma plantago, boring a gallery in the interior. It changes " to a pupa in situ, after having spun a slight cocoon of grey silk."
JEujxecilia Geyeriana, H.-S. — Hitherto mixed with udana, Gn., under the name of f/riseana. A description will therefore be useful. Alar exp., 5-G lines.
Ilead and palpi ochreous. Antennae brown. Fore-wings shining pale yelloAvish- ochrcous, with rich brown markings, consisting of an oblique streak near the base of the dorsal margin, and a very oblique fascia in the middle of the wing, from tho upper part of wliich a streak is given off which reaches the anal angle, thus fonning a broad inverted Y, within which is a small dark brown triangle on tho dorsal margin. There is also before tho hind margin a second fascia, ill-defined, but often iiniling with tho posterior arm of the Y. Cilia ochreous, spotted with brown. Ilind-wings grey with whitish cilia.
Allied to udana, Gn., but with narrower and more shining fore- wings, far more richly clouded with brown towards the apex. Allied also to Mussehliana, Tr., which, however, has no well-defined fascise as in this species.
192 [January, 1875.
Agrees well with Herrich-Scliaffcr's fig. 91. Found rather com- raonly in the fens of Norfolk, and probably in those of Canibridge- shire, flying among Pedicularis palmtris, in May, June, and August.
Eupcecilia Mannicma, F. v. E. — xllso confounded apparently with griseana, and perhaps also with affinitana. It was, however, recognized as a distinct species by Messrs. Hodgkinson and Grregson, who took several specimens in Cumberland in 1869 and 1870, and was recorded in Newman's Entomologist for May, 1870, under the name of Argyro- lepia luridana, G-regson. Under this name it was also noticed in the Entomologist's Annual for 1871, but the description, as there quoted, being hardly intelligible, I think it best to add a description taken from specimens lent me by the Rev. Henry Burney and Mr. Sang. Mr. Burney's are the original specimens taken by Mr. Hodgkinson (who has also obliged me with the sight of another taken by himself in May, 1872), and Mr. Sang's was taken by him near Darlington.
Alar exp., 6 lines.
Head, palpi, and thorax pale ochreous-yellow, darker at the sides. Fore--wiDg8 pale yellow with brownish-ochreous markings, consisting of a short streak along the costa at the base, an oblique dash from the base of the dorsal margin, an oblique, narrow, entire, sharply outlined central fascia, which emits a delicate line from its postei'ior margin, near the costa to the anal angle. In the enclosed space is a broad, flat, triangular spot on the dorsal margin. A second fascia or streak proceeds from the costa before the apex obliquely to the hind margin. Cilia pale yellow. Hind- wings pale grey, darker in the female.
It resembles at first sight a miniature Argyrolepia cnicana, for which reason I suppose Mr. Gregson placed it in that genus. Its nearest allies in this country appear to be Eupcecilia Geyeriana and affinitana.
I sent Messrs. Burney and Sang's specimens to Professor Zeller, who writes in reply : — " This is the species named for me by Fischer " von Boslerstamon when he visited me — Manniana. Under this name " I received it several times myself from Mann himself, who, I should " think, must know the species named in his honour. To this decision, "answers F. v. E.'s fig., Beitr., pi. 51. It is a rare species, occurring " in southern countries, but also in Silesia."
I give this decisive opinion of Zeller's in full because Hcinemann appears to have mistaken udana, Gn., for this species, and his descrip- tion consequently does not agree with it. This mistake has been followed up by other continental Lcpidopterists, thereby leading Mr. McLachlan to quote them as identical. Dr. Wocke, however, gives them as distinct, and Herrich-SchafEer's figure of Manniana represents a species unknown to me.
February, 1S75 ] j[93
Mannia7ia, F. v. R., Ib certainly rare also in this country, but M idely distributed. Besides the localities already mentioned, I took a worn specimen myself some years ago in a damp wood-path near Haslemere, Surrey, and have lately seen one from Devonshire, and several from Wilts, taken by Mr. E. Meyrick.
M. Jourdheuille's statement that the larva of this species feeds in stems of Mentha sylvestris may be intended to refer to notulana.
Eupcecilia rupicola, Curt. — In my opinion, Herrich-Schaffer's figures S6 and 87 — humidana — do not represent this^ species, but fig. S5—phaIeratana — does pretty correctly, although fig. 84 is not satisfactory.
M. Jourdheuille says that the larva of rupicola feeds in the flowers of Clirysocoma Unosyris, hibernating within them ;Jbut this is evidently in error for suhroseana, Haw. Zeller confirms Mr. McLach- lan's statement that it only occurs among Eupatorium.
Eiipoecilia vectisana, "Westwood. — Wocke includes this species in his Catalogue as doubtfully distinct from affinitana. In this he probably followed Mr. Doubleday, who is now convinced of their dis- tinctness and has introduced vectisana as a separate species in his last Supplement to his list. That they are distinct, I have not a shadow of doubt ; but as yet the food-plant of the larva of vectisana has not been ascertained. In this country it is almost confined to salt marshes on the coast, but in Germany it is found in marshy meadows among Triglochinpalustre. These German specimens are so much darker, and have the delicate silvery gloss so much more distinctly than ours, that it was only by the comparison of long and variable series that I could satisfy cither Prof. Zeller or myself of their identity. This form is known, I believe, in Germany as Oeyeriana, H.-S., but is much smaller than that species, and very different both in form and colour. I believe, however, that it is Ileinemann's Geycriana. I have just (since writing the above, in fact) received some remarkable evidence of the identity of these two forms. Mr. Machin has taken a specimen of our ordinary coast form in the Hackney marshes, close to London ; and among some insects taken by Lord Walsingham in the Cambridge- shire fens, I find a similar specimen, and also two of the strongly marked variety. This is peculiarly satisfactory.
Wocke introduces vectisana a second time into his list as a synonym of Mussehliajia, Tr., giving Wilkinson and Stainton as authorities. It is perhaps in some degree allied to this species, being, like it, usually destitute of a wcll-drfmed central fascia.
19 J Ll'el^ruaiy,
Eupcecilia affiniiana, Dougl.
Eupoecilia flaviciliana, Dbld. — Apparently unknown — or con- founded with roseana — on the continent. AYocke, following Heine- mann, quotes Wilkinson's and Stainton's descriptions as synonymous with epilinana, Zell., but erroneously, epilinana being a broader winged insect with piukish-oc7«reo2/s fore-wings, and occurring among flax, on the seeds of which the larva feeds.
Eu2)oecilia roseana, Haw.
Eupoecilia suhroseana.'H.siW. — Haw orth' 8 description of this species, though short, is pretty satisfactory, but Wilkinson's evidently refers to the richly coloured northern variety of ciliella, Hiibn., as also do his localities, but upon this subject there are some notes in the Eut. Mo. Mag., vol. v, p. 2i4, and I need not therefore go into it again.
Dr. Wocke overlooks Wilkinson's description, but (incorrectly) sinks suhroseana, Haw., into a variety of roseana, Haw. In the form of its wings it seems to me more nearly allied to rupicola than to the pointed-winged group of which roseana may be considered the type.
It appears in this country to be confined to the woods of the south, and is far from common.
Eupcecilia Heydeniana, H.-S. — Eecorded and briefly described by Mr. McLachlan, in Ent. Ann., 18G9, p. 90, and further noticed in Ent. Mo. Mag., v, p. 245.
Dr. Wocke appears to insert this species twice over in his list, since this is certainly Seydeniana, Hein., which he makes synonymous with impUcitana, H.-S.
According to M. Jourdheuille's Calendar, the larva feeds in flowers of Gnaplialium, Pyreiliruin inodorum, Tanacetnm, Artemisia and Solidayo, and it was about the last named plant that I used to take it at Haslemere.
I am strongly of opinion that Wood's fig. 1141; — rujiciliana — represents this species, and if so his name would have priority.
Eupoecilia anthemidana. Curt. ? — Nothing further has been elicited about this species since Mr. McLachlan wrote in 1868, but I think it very doubtful whether the species found in Norfolk, feeding in seed-heads of Erigeron acre, and having a ichite head and palpi, is the same as that bred by Curtis from Anfhemis, which is described as having cream-coloured head and face, inclining to rosy.
It does not, however, seem advisable to erect tlie Erigeron feeder into a new species Tintil the true antlicmidana (if distinct) be re-dis- covcrcd.
1875.] 195
Dr. Wofko omits this species from his list, but Ileinemann regards it as synonymous witli his Heydeniana — a very different species.
It seems to be widely distributed in this country, having been found couunouly near Shoreham, in Kent, and near London, as well as at Lord Walsingham's original locality near Brandon, on the borders of Norfolk and Suffolk, and last season I found a few specimens close to Norwich. It does not seem to have been observed on the Continent.
Eupoecilia ruficiliana, Haw. — This has already been corrected by Mr. McLachlan, as well as by Dr. "Wocke, to ciliella, Hiibn., with which Ilaworth's brief description agrees very well.
It appears to feed on various sjiecics of Primula, for Prof. Zeller found it commonly in the Alps among P./arinosa, and. this will per- haps account for its occurrence on high mountain districts in Scotland. Mr. Eedle, however, assures me that he takes the large, handsome, Scotch form among Bog Asphodel {Narthecium ossifragum) .
There exists in Norfolk a dwarf form, rather brightly marked, and with the fore-wings regularly irrorated with grey scales, w'hich I have been strongly inclined to consider distinct, but it seems im- possible to find any reliable distinctive character, and I therefore bow to Prof. Zeller' 8 opinion that it is merely a local variety, dwarfed by unusual food (probably Anagallis tenella, among which it is found on the boggy heaths). AVilkinson's description of rxificiliana may have been made from similar specimens.
EiqyoeciUa Begreijana, McLachlan. — Described by Mr. McLachlan in the Ent. Ann., 1SG9, p. 91, and further noticed in Ent. Mo. Mag. vol. V, p. 215.
Omitted by Dr. Wocke, who has, by some accident, entirely over- looked Mr. McLachlan's paper.
I have found it commonly near Norwich frequenting Plantago lanceolata, but haA e failed to find the larva. See Ent. Mo. Mag., vii, p. 158.
The Rev. II. Burney has, however, sent me a specimen which seems unquestionably to belong to this species, which was reared from a larva found feeding in seeds of Linaria vulgaris by Mr. Bree, a good many years ago.
I have merely placed this species at the end of the genus for con- venience in following Wilkinson's arrangement ; that of Mr. McLachlan is far more natural, as this species approaches very near to roacana and Huviciliana, as well as to ciliellu.
19G - [February,
Lozopera dilucidana, Steph. — Although this speciee is reared iu plenty from steins of JPastinaca safivo, it is Bot yet satisfactorily as- certained whether it feeds entirely in them, or whether it is a seed- feeder when young, like its allies.
Lozopera Francillana, Fab. — Prof. Zeller asks whether these two are not variations of one species, and whether we do not find inter- mediate specimens ? As far as my experience goes, they are totally distinct, and I never saw an intermediate specimen, neither do they seem to occur in the same localities. Francillana used to be common on the Dublin coast, but I never saw dilucidana there.
M. Jourdheuille says of Francillana, " Larva in dead stems of "previous year's Eryngium ca7>ipesfre ;^' this must be a mistake for some other species. It has been bred from larvae feeding on the seeds of Dauctts carota.
Lozopera Smeafhmanniana, Fab. — M. Jourdheuille says that the larva feeds in flower-heads of Achillea millefolium, and this is confirmed by Mr. Machin, who tells me that it leaves the seed-heads before spinning up. It has also been reared from seed-heads of Centaurea nigra and other Compositce.
Lozopera straminea, Haw. — Better known in Germany by the later name, Tischerana, Tr. The larvjp feeds in seed-heads of Centaurea, and has been known to spin up in the root.
Lozopera alternana, Steph. — M. Grueneo proposed to alter this to gigantana, there being another alternana in another genus, and this is followed by M. Doubleday in his list. Stephens' name must, I think, be retained.
This is an exceedingly local species. Prof. Zeller expresses doubt of its distinctness from straminea. I hope to convince him at a future time by the sight of a larger series than I have been able to send as yet. Its larva feeds in flower-heads of Centaurea scahiosa, on the south coast, and has been reared by Messrs. Doubleday and Bond.
Xanthosetia hamana, Linn.
Xanthosetia Zoegana, Linn.
Lapsilia rutilana, Hiibn.
Argyridia dipoltella, Hiibn. — Zeller says, " Larva in umbels of " Achillea millefolium in October."
CTo he voutinwed.)
1875.] ^,,7
DESCEIPTIOX OF A NEW SPECIES OF PROCTOTRYPIDM FROM CEYLON.
BY A. O. WARD.
Mtmab tapeobanicus, 62). n. ? . Ochraceics, suhtus j^f^iUdior, antennis pedibusque coneolorihus, ocuHs ritjis, sub-hemisphcericis ; alarum anticarum pars dilatata liyalina^ dlmidio apicaUfitsco, marginibus ciliatis ; alee posficcs lonf/ce, sefacecB ; petiolus sat validus, coxis p>osticis longior; aculeus retracfilis, subexsertiM. Sahitat Ins. Ceilanum. Long. Corp. "02 unc. {x l^>^- anglic.) ; Alar. exp. "6 unc. {\.\ lin.).
Differs from the European M. pulcJielhis, Curt., in tlie following particulars : the eyes are red, the autennje of the same colour as the rest of the body ; the scape is thicker than the flagellum, but slightly shorter than the fourth joint ; and the petiole of the abdomen is stouter (rather thicker than the scape) .
The apical half of the spatuliform part of the fore-wings is ob- f uscated, being darkest towards the apex, and the marginal ciliae are longer than the width of this expanded portion ; in addition to them, there are two rows of shorter setaa on the surface and towards the anterior margin of the wings. The linear non-spatulate hind-wings are two-thirds the length of the anterior pair. The apical joints of the tarsi and antennae are darkened. The limbs and antenna? are clothed with sparse short setae, spirally arranged on the latter.
This insect was sent from Colombo mounted in balsam, by Mr. Stanniforth Green, who has devoted considerable attention to tills mctliod of mounting entire insects, and with success. He fiiids that the balsam in the hot climate of Ceylon dries rapidly ; and if, as he says, it is impossible to transmit delicate specimens mounted in the usual way on card, Mr. Green's method deserves great attention, even though we lose by it the powerof inspecting specimens from all points, and can in some instances only obtain the symmetrical dorsal view to which most entomologists are accustomed.
Parkfiold, Putney, S.W. : Jatuiarii, 1S75.
198 , 1'cbniarj-,
NOTES ON BRITISH HOMOPTEBA, WITH DESCRIPTIONS OP ADDITIONAL SPECIES.
BY J. W. DOUGLAS.
TTPHLOCYBID^.
In Silbermann's " Eevue," 1833, Germar characterised a group of species of Sotnopfera as a genus, under the name of Ti/pJiIoa/ba, and in January of the same year, in the first volume of the " Entomological Magazine," Curtis characterised the same group under the generic name of Eupten/x. Germar's definition was very meagre, and Curtis's was also insufficient, and I am not sure which had the claim of priority, although it is most probable it was due to Eupteryx. But in 1837, in his " British Entomology," Curtis accurately defined Eupteryx, giving characters, illustrated by figures, derived in part from the neuration of the elytra and wings, find cowfivmmg! Cicada picfa, Fab., as the type,Jbut without pointing out that all the species he associated did not conform thereto. Therefore, when the generic sub-division of the group, according to more precise modern ideas, became requisite, it was necessary to restrict Eupteryx to the species which agreed with the characters given, and to relegate the others meanwhile to Typlilocyla. Several authors, however, have not done this; "Westwood, in his "Introduction" (1810), quotes TyphJocyha, Germ., in its entirety and as equivalent to Eupteryx, Curt. ; Zetter- stedt, in his " Insccta Lapponica " (1810), gives a new name — Cicadiila — to the genus, including some species not belonging to the family, although he quotes Typ)hlocyl>a as a synonym, but he divided it into eight sections without sub-generic names. Now, it follows that if Zetterstedt's name, Cicadula, be retained at all, it can only be for the first section of his genus, comprising two species. Cicada 4i-notata, Fab., and C. strigipes, Zett. ; but both of these are referred to the genus Thamnotettix by Fieber, who, after passing over the first section, has made Cicadula, Zett., the generic receptacle for certain species of the second section only.
In the Ycrhandl. k. k. zool.-botan. Gesells. Wicn, 1865, Fieber distributed the Typhlocylidce among ten genera, then characterized, viz. : Compsus, Erytliria, Notus, Chloria, Kyhos, Anomia, Zygina, Idia Typlilocyha, and Eupteryx, all of them, except the last two, being new. Eupteryx is here properly typified, according to Curtis's characters, by Cicada v it lata, L., and C. urticce. Fab. ; and to Typlilocyha are referred all the species left after his generic selection ; Cicada lineatella, Fall. (= C. fjcometrica, Schrk.), being the tyj#.
1875.1 190
In the Eut. Mo. Mag., 1HG7, Marshall described all the then known British species under the name Eiqiteryx, Curtis, but gave sectional characters.
In his " Cicadinen," 1868, Kirschbaum puts all the species he describes into three sections of Typhi ocyha. Germ.
In his " Cicadaria," 1871, T)i\ J. Sahlberghas, in the main, adopted Fieber's scheme of genera, modifying it, however, by uniting A?ioniia, Zygina, Idia, and Tijphlocyha, under the name of Typhlocyha, and Cltloria and Kyhos under the name of Gicadula, Zett. The former set of these modifications, founded upon consideration of the small amount of difference in the neuration of the wings, as shown by Fieber himself (and in some cases admitted by him subsequently), is, I think, justifiable ; but the adoption of the name Cicadula for part of Zetter- stedt's section " b " cannot be maintained, for the reasons stated above, and on account also of the generic discordance among the species cited. The figures of the neuration of the wings, on which the genera are chiefly founded, are excellent.
In 1872, Fieber published his " Katalog der europiiischen Cica- dinen," in which, on the ground of prior use, he alters Compsus to Alebrcr, and Chloria to Chlorita ; and he unites 'ErytJiria with Notus, and Idia with Zyyina. But he relinquishes his former correct idea of Eiqjteryx, Curt., which he calls TyphJocyha, Germ., refers the species previously associated under the latter name to Anomia and Zygina, and drops Euptcryx, Curt., altogether ; fortunately, these latter arbitrary propositions appear only in a Catalogue, and without show of justification, but it is necessary to notice them to prevent mis- conception by those who follow.
{To he continuedj.
OX THE AERAXOEMENT OF THE BRITISH ANTIIOMYITDJS. BY R. ir. MEADE.
The small and sombre flics comprised in the Dipterous family Anthomyiidai are very little known to British entomologists ; but their numbers, both in species and individuals, arc so great in this and other cold and temperate climates, that they deserve more attention than they have received. They are confessedly difficult to determine; but this very difficulty adds fo the inferosl which they should excite, and
2(X) [Febranvy,
is truly more apparent than real ; for, tliouo;h many Hpecies are ex- ceedingly alike, when closely examined, good distinctive characters may mostly be found for their separation.
To facilitate their examination and description, it is imperatiA'ely necessary to sub-divide them into groups or genera ; and though some of these must be more or less artificial, this is a small evil in com- parison with leaving 200 or 300 species in one genus.
It is for the purpose of calling the attention of British entomolo- gists to this family (which has been most carefully studied upon the Continent) that I venture to publish a few remarks on the characters of the principal generic sub-divisions into which our indigenous spe- cies may be classed, and I shall endeavour to arrange them, as far as possible, into natural groups.
Meigen, to whom all Dijiterologists owe so much, first detached these flies from the great tribe of Muscidce ; but he retained almost all the European species in one genus, which he named Anthomyia. In his seventh or supplementary volume, however, published in 1838, he raised them to the rank of a separate family, and adopted some of the new genera which had then been formed.
Dr. Eobineau Desvoidy, in his " Essai sur les Myodares " (1830), first sub-divided this family (which he named Mesomydce) into a great number of small groups ; but he went as much too far in the formation of genera as he did in the sub-division of species, for both are charac- terised by such insufiicient and undecided characters, that they are practically useless. Macquart* reduced the chaos created by Desvoidy into something like order, and his genera (which were made with great skill) have been adopted, with various modifications, by most subsequent authors, with the exception of Zetterstedt, who, in his great work upon the Diptera of Scandinavia, includes almost all the AnthomyiidcB in two genera ; one characterised by having entirely black legs, and the other by the legs being partly or wholly yellow.
Rondani, the most recent systematic writer upon the Antliomyiidee, has, in his work upon the Italian Diptera, very carefully and elabo- rately revised the genera into which they may be sub-divided, adding a good many new ones, and altering the names of others ; and, although he may have carried his alterations a little too far, he has done much valuable work.f
The Anthomyiidce may at once be known from the typical flies
* Hist. Nat. des insectes diptJires, 1835. t Sciiiner's valuable work upon the Dipta-a, in the " Ft^ua Austriaca," may also be mentioned.
1875, 201
(Muscides), as the housc-ily and blue-bottle, by baviug tlic firat pos- terior cell of the wings open at its extremity, the fifth longitudinal or pra^brachial vein running straight or nearly straight to the margin of the wing, while it is curved or bent at an angle towards the fourth or cubital vein in the true Muscides. They may also bo distinguished from the more feebly developed or acalypterate families of Muscidce either by the approximation of the eyes of the male, or by the size of the alulets, which, though sometimes small, are always very distinct in the Anthomyiidce, even in those genera in which the eyes are wadely separated in both sexes.
It is of importance to determine which are the most constant, and therefore most valuable points of structure, for the formation of genera.
The relative size of the scales of the alulets may first be mentioned. In the more typical species they are generally tolerably large, and the lower scale projects considerably beyond the upper ; but in many others they are small, and nearly or quite of the same size, so that one scale completely covers the other.
In some large groups the arista or style of the antennaj is hairy or plumose, in others only tomentose or bare.
In many species the eyes are hairy, in a still greater number naked.
In some divisions the abdomen is always spotted, or provided with sub-anal appendages.
The body and legs are often furnished with various teeth, spines, hairs, and bristles, which are generally constant in form and position, and become very valuable characters for the formation of genera, when they are similarly placed in a number of allied species. I am indebted to Mr. Verrall for pointing out to me that there are two rows of dorsal bristles always present upon the thorax, in addition to others scattered on the sides, in which the number of setae is always constant in indi- viduals of the same species. There are two (in a few kinds, only one) in front of the transverse suture, by which the thorax is intersected, in a longitudinal line; with either three or four strong bristles behind it.
In addition to the featiires I have mentioned, the length and di- rection of the veins of the wings is very characteristic of certain groups, as is also the shape of the head and abdomen ; and two genera may be known, one l)y the peculiar shape of the proboscis, and the other of the palpi.
I will now endeavour to arrange the genera in a tabular or ana- lytical form, .'ind then ninke a few illustrative remarks upon each genus.
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PoLTETES. — Thia genus was eeparatcd by E. Desvoidy from tho AntJiomjjiidcB and placed among tlio Muscides, from the resemblance which the two species contained in it bear to some of the more highly developed flics ; but it possesses the essential character of the family in a very high degree, the fourth and fifth longitudinal veins diverging considerably from each other at their extremities, thus leaving the first posterior cells of the wings widely open. Of the two species which it contains, one is the well known Musca Jardaria, Fab., in size and form much like the common blue-bottle fly, but lighter and greyer in colour ; and the other the Musca alho-llneatn, Fall., the Macrosoma jloralis of DcHvoidy, which closely resembles Cyrloneura hortorum in colour and markings.
IItetodesia. — This includes all the species (except the two in the previous genus) which have plumose antennae and hairy eyes. It cor- responds to the first half of the genus Aricin of Macquart and others. The typical species arc mostly of considerable size, have an oval abdo- men, and form a very natural group ; but a good many aberrant species of email size and oblong form are obliged to bo associated with them.
CTo be continued).
DESCRIPTION OF a NEW SPECIES of BRASS0LIN2E fhom BOGOTA. BY W. L. niSTAXT.
Opsiphanes Boootanus, n. sp.
Wings nliovo, chocolate-brown, front wings with first lialf of costal area of a more rufous-brown, from which, near the base, a semi-circular patch of the same colour extends over about one-third of discoidal cell to base of internal area, a some- what irregular band of yelluwlsh-whito extending from costal margin immediately past extremity of cell to external angle, widening below cell and terminating in a smallish sub-marginal patch ; three sub-apical white spots. Hind-wings with abdominal half of a more rufous-brown, which occupies lower half of cell and extends through second median interspace to abdominal area which is yellowish- wliite, two sub-marginal, somewhat obscure, narrow waved bands of darker brown.
Wings below very similar to 0. CrawierJ, Fclder, and to 0. Ort/clorix, llcwitson.
Expanse of wings, 4 in. 2 lin. Ilab. : Bogota.
A female, apparently of this species, is in tho National Collection from Venezuela, and in colour and nini-kings somewhat closely re- sembles 0. Cramcri, Felder.
Strcatham Cottage, Bupcleuch Road, West Dulwich, S.E. :
Januari) 2nd, 1875.
204 [February,
DESCRIPTION OF THEEE NEW SPECIES OF TRIQONURUS. BY D. SHARP, M.B.
Dr. Leconte has recently described a number of the more in- teresting of the new species of Goleoptera, discovered by the lamented Gr. E.. Crotch, in California. Among these descriptions are to be found two new species of the impoi'tant genus Trigonurus, — noteworthy for the New-world Coleopterous fauna. I have for some years pos- sessed three species of Trigonurus from California, and supposed, on receiving Dr. Leconte's paper, that I should find tvro of them to be his new species. Such, however, proves not to be the case ; for, after examination of Leconte's descriptions, I am obliged to conclude that I possess neither of his two species ; and I think it will be of interest, therefore, to publish descriptions of the three species in my collection.
Trigonurus rugosus, oi. sp.
Castaneus, opacus, suh-parallelus ; tliorace sub-quadrato, hasi hisi- nuato, anguUs p)Osteriorihus leviter acutis; elytris dense, fortiter, ruguloso- et striato-punctatis, apice recte truncatis ; ahdomine crehre fort iter punctato. Long. corp. 5 vwi.
Head coarsely and closely punctured, with a deep transverse impression between the insertion of the antennse. Thorax very nearly as long as broad, the sides a little narrowed in front of the middle : it is densely and coarsely punctured, with a longi- tudinal impression along the middle, whicli does not reach the base ; and it has also on each side a ratluT large but ill-defined basal impression just within the angles. The elytra are one and a half times the length of the thorax, but only slightly broader than it ; they are very coarsely punctured, and the punctures are arranged in rows, but they are very close together and the interstices are irregular or rugulosc; the hind-body is rather closely and coarsely punctured.
The dense coarse sculpture rendering the upper surface opaque^ and the truncate apex of the elytra, make this species very easily dis- tinguishable from all others of the genus.
In its structiu'al characters this species closely approaches T. Mellyi ; nevertheless, a difference exists between the two in the structure of the presternum ; in T. rugosus, the posterior side piece of the prosternum forms a true triangle ; it is a little further removed from the front piece, the result of which is that the front coxae of T. rugosus are rather more enclosed behind, but are more uncovered at the sides than in T. MeJlyi ; should this structure be found similar in the other A.merican species, it may be sufficient to warrant the establishment of a separate genus. In both T. Mellyi and T. rugosus, a trochantin of the front coxa) is very dietinctly visible.
18T5.] 205
TiiiooNUiiua Edwarusi, n. sp.
Casfaneo-piceus, nitldus; tliorace suh-q^uadrato, minus dense et minus fortiter pnnctato, hasi truncato, angulis posterioribus recfis ; clytris fovtitcr regularitcrqxie stnato-punctatis ; ahdomine suhtiliter punctato, apice Icevigato. Long. corp. 4 mm.
Head sparingly and indistinctly punctured, with a transvcrso impression between the insertion of the autenna\ Thorax rather broader than long, straight at the sides, but narrowed near the front angles ; the punctuation of its upper suriace is irrcgidarj it being coarse at the base, and especially distinct and coarse in the two basal im- pressions, it is fine on the disc and wanting at the front angles. It has a longitudinal channel abbreviated in front and behind. Elytra about one and a half times the length of the thorax, extremely strongly and regularly punctured ; the punctures arranged in very distinct and regvdar rows, but not placed in grooves, each puncture is very distinct and well defined, the interstices being narrow, there are seven of these rows ; the seventh is entire, and outside it is a very abbreviated eighth row. The hind-body is very sparingly and finely punctured, the apical segments indeed are very nearly impunctate.
This species is clearly closely allied to T. ccelatus, Lee, but I believe the punctuation of its thorax and hind-body must be very much finer than in that species.
I have very much pleasure in naming this insect in honour o£ Henry Edwards, Esq., of San Francisco, to whom I am indebted for this, as also the other species here described. His liberality has supplied me with twenty specimens of T. rugosus, three of T. Edwardsi, and two of T. Lecontus.
Triqonueus Lecontus, n. sp.
Nitidus, drpressus, piceo-rufus, elgtris magis rufescentihus ; tliorace transversim suh-(iiiadralo, basi truncato, angulis jyosterioribus reciis ; elylris reguJariter punctato-striatis, punctis minus discretis, interstitiis august is ; abdomine minus crebre sat fortiter punctato.
Long. corp. li mm.
This species much resembles T. Edwardsi, but is broader and rather more depressed ; its thorax is a little more strongly [)uiuiurcd, and the dorsal channel less distinct; the hind-body is more distinctly punctured. The sculpture of the elytra, however, readily distinguishes the two species ; the punctures in T. Lecontus being placed in grooves, and the longitudinal interstices between the })un(tures are indistinct and not elevated.
According to Leconte's description of T. Crotchii, this species must be tdosely allied thereto ; '\n T. Crotchii, Leconte says the elytra
20G [February,
are twice as long as the thorax, with the eeveuth stria faiuter than the others, aud abbreviated one-fifth before the base ; w'hile in T. Le- coiitus, the seventh stria attains the base, and the elytra have not quite 5 : 3 of the length of the thorax.
I have ventured to name this species in honour of the distinguished entomologist, J. L. Leconte ; and I have used the trivial word Lecontus, in preference to Lecontci, a word of which the pronunciation is at least ambiguous.
Thoriihill, Dumfries :
January B>th, 1875.
On the synonymy of Pleocoma staff, Schaiifuss. — In tlie paper above alluded to (or rather immediately following it), will be found a notice by Dr. Leconte on the species of the remarkable genus Pleocoma, and also a description of the larva of one of the species by Baron R. Osten Sacken.
Leconte describes one of the species of the genus under the name of Pleocoma Eclwardsii, and adds to his description the following observations : —
" This species is recognizably described, though not propei'ly named, by ]Mr. "Schaufuss (Nunquam Otiosus, vol. ii). The name suggested for it by "Mr. Crotch (Check list', p. 58) is likewise inadmissible, not only because he " gives no reason for its adoption, and because that kind of list is an improper " place for changes in nomenclature, but for the still stronger reason, that it " tends to perpetuate in science the memory of the political venom which " inspired the name given by Mr. Schaufuss. I cannot express myself too " strongly on the necessity of keeping our scientific nomenclature free " from all personal, political, or religious prejudices or expressions of " opinion. Such use of scientific publication, for intruding upon students "of natural history irrelevant views respecting subjects which are not " comprised within -tlie domain of their researches, must be discountenanced." So says the renowned American entomologist ; and I fully agree with his strong expi-essions of opinion on the contemptible natiu'e of motives which prompt the giving of a scientific name under such circumstances as those to which he alludes. But I cannot agree with him in thinking we arc justified iu changing a name so given iu order to mark our displeasure. The name, after it was once given, is dis- joined from the motives that prompted it ; and we may be sure these will be speedily forgotten, or, if remembered, it will be only to call up a smile at the childish im- petuosity of the iiamer.
The facts of the case are briefly as follows : Schaufuss described in " Nunquam Otiosus " three species of Pleocoma, to one of which he gave the name " P. staff," intending some allusion to the " Prussian general' staff." Crotch, in his Check list of N. American Coleoptera, cites this species in due place as No. 3365, but gives it a new name, viz., " Pleocoma adjurans, Cv." and indicates in an unmistakeable manner the species he intends the name for, by adding " staff] Schauf." as a synonym. Leconte afterwards proposes a third name for the same ^ccies.
1975. 207
Such are the f\ict3 ; and the question arises, which of the three names is to be the name of the species ? Is it to be called I'leocoma staff, P. adjurans, or P. Edwardsii ?
To me, it is clear that the name given by Schaufuss, being the oldest (and it is not disputed but that the description by which it is accompanied is a sufficient one), is the correct name for the species. It is quite plain to me that we have no right to reject a name on account of the motives expressed, or unexpressed, of the giver : this, indeed, seems so clear that I think it will be generally admitted, and I will there- fore say no more about it. But it may still be objected that the name P. s^a^ ought to be set aside, because it is neither Latin or classical. To tliis I answer that the use of words other than Latin and classical ones, for trivial names, is now generally re- cognized as legitimate, and is expressly advocated by the late Prof. Agassiz (see note on the subject, in his " Joiu-ney to Brazil " ), and by myself. Those who insist on a Latin termination can easily give this to Schaufuss' name by writing it " P. staffa."
I tliink, then, there is no question that Seliaid'uss' name should be adopted ; but if it be not, then certainly the name P. adjurans, Cr., should be used. I must admit I have read with astonishment Leconte's reasons (above quoted) for setting this on one side. They appear to be thi-ee in number : fu'st, that Crotch " gives no reason for its adoption ;" under the circumstances it was clear that any reason was uncalled for. Second, " that kind of list is an improper place for changes in nomenclature ;" to this I answer, that I consider it one of the best places to make such changes when they ai'c necessary. Leconte's third reason is but a diluted repetition of the " motive " one I have already commented on, and need not notice further.
I hope the preceding remarks will not be considered superfluous. The principal difficulty in establishing a system of Zoological Nomenclature consists in the constant introduction of new reasons for changing names. The innovations implied by Dr. Leconte's remarks above quoted are so considerable, and his reputation is so great, that the observations I have made will not, I trust, be considered intrusive. — D. SuAEP, Thornhill, Dumfries : January \Wt, 1875.
Note on a species of Amara new to Britain. — I have no doubt that many others, like myself, have often found a difficulty in satisfactorily separating their exponents oi Amara lunicollis and communis, Mhich, to me, at least, always seemed to be connected by an intermediate form. Thomson, Opusc. Ent. v (1873) , p. 529, has solved the enigma by describing a third species, A. continua, occurring rarely in the south-west parts of Sweden, in sandy districts (but which, as far as my small collection goes, is more abundant here than communis, to which it is allied).
A. lunicollis has only the two basal joints of the antenna) reddish, or pitchy, often quite dark on the upper side ; the thoracic basal foveou distinctly impressed, but the whole base obsolctely punctured ; the middle tibiiu of the (J distinctly cuned, &c.
In A. continua and communis, Ihe three basal joints of the antenna) are testaoeous- rcd, and the tibisc are often ferruginous ; the thoracic basal fovea; are more obsolctely impressed, but the base itself is more decidedly punctured, and the anterior angles are more produced. A. continua is the larger of the two, having tho build of lunicollis (viz. : broader than communi^i, less parallel, with the elytra wider behind) ;
208 [Fcbru.iry,
and it is readily separated from communis by having the marginal row of large punctures on the elytra continuous, whereas, in communis, these large punctures are very perceptibly interrupted about a third of the length below the shoulder. This continuous row of punctures is also found in hmicollis. — E. C. Eye, Parkfield, Putney, S.W. : December, 1874.
Late appearance of Cetonia aurata. — At p. 178, Tol. x, of the " Entomologist's Monthly Magazine," Mr. Scott records the appearance of Ceio>iia aurata on the 15th October. I have now to chronicle an even later date for that species, as I found a specimen of it at ivy-bloom, in the day-time, on the 29th October last year, in a garden at West Wickham. This specimen was unusually small, but otherwise in an excellent condition ; and seemed to have but just entered into the imago state. — W. A. FoEBES, 35, S. Castle Street, Edinburgh : Jamiary, 1875.
[These exceptional appearances are no doubt due to the fact that the Cetonia (like Lucanus cervus, and some other beetles) assumes the perfect state late in the autumn, but remains, ordinarily, in the cocoon till the following summer. Hence these ab- normal autiunnal specimens should rather bo regarded as " early," not " late ;" their appearance being perhaps due to sudden rise of temperature combined with individual precocity. — Eds.]
JElia acuminata. — As this species is recorded in Douglas and Scott's " British Hemiptera-Heteroptera " only from the London district, it may be of interest if I state that I found it in abundance by sweeping in a clover-field near Winchester, at the latter end of May, some years ago." — Id.
Comparative descriptions of the larvre, c^c, of Xylophasia lithoxylea and poly- odon. — From the great similarity that exists between the larvae of these two species, Duponchel, who had bred both insects from larva; in which ho thought he could see no difference, was induced to consider them to be but varieties of one species ; and I confess that for a long time after certain experiments made by myself, which seemed to end in a similar way, I felt strongly inclined to take the same view ; and nothing but the firm and continued assm-ances to the contrary of my friend Mr. Doubleday encouraged me to persevere, in the hope of eventually distinguishing the one larva from the other.
Foiled year after year in my attempts to obtain eggs from the moths imprisoned for that purpose, and failing also to obtain them from friends who could naturally perhaps feel but little interest in these insects of such common occurrence, — I had to content myself with tliose single examples of the larva) that by chance occurred to myself, or were found and forwarded to me by friends at distant intervals of time, so that my investigation has unavoidably been of a somewhat desultory nature, and in addition has often been retarded, just when success seemed almost assured, by the vexatious circumstance of the disclosure of ichneumons in the place of moths ; tliis last circumstance also gave rise in my mind to doubts as to whether certain appear- ances, which I had figured and noted, might not have been duo entirely to the presence of parasites witliin the larva, and I felt compelled to wait on for further observation of health v larvte. «
"f^-^i 209
Tliiinks to the kiiulnoss of the Rev. H. Williams of Croxton, my desire has been fulfilled, and my work in this difficult matter accomplished during the season now closing ; and in the hope of interesting some of the readers of this Magazine, I ven- ture to submit my notes of both species of larvae for publication ; at the same time acknowledging the kindness of Mr. W. Machin, who, at the end of March, 1871, sent me two larva; found by him at the roots of grass, and by so doing, as the event has proved, helped me to both species at once.
Both species of larvae are alike in figure and structure, having tough, smooth, shilling skins, and still more lustrous dark heads, plates, and spots; they arc irritable in di.sposition, and this circumstance, added to the lustre of their surface, rendera very close inspection necessary to arrive at their identification. They are cylindrical and tapering a little from the third segment to the head, and again from the eleventh to the anal extremity ; the third and fourth segments sub- divided by transverse wrinkles, the others plump, well-defined, and puckered a little along the sides ; the usual dots in both species assume the character of tubercular warts, each furnished with a hair, like the head and plates they arc black or blackish- brown in colour, and in shape and arrangement are found as follows : the central transverse series on the back of the third and fourth segments are oblong and arc preceded and followed by a fusiform transverse spot dorsally divided by a thin line of the ground colour, which is also seen to divide the anterior plate, while on the sides of these two segments are grouped several more or less roundish spots ; on the back of each of the other segments (save the last) are four large black spots, the trapezoidals, these have the first pairs round, the second pairs roundish- ovate ; along the sides of each of these segments are grouped five spots in this way, the spiracle is surrounded with four of them, viz. : a large one above and below, one behind much smaller, and the smallest a mere dot in front, the fifth spot is the lowest, and where the ventral legs occur is borne on them ; the thirteenth segment has spots in front and a plate beliiud ; the ventral and anal legs are broadly barred near their tips, which are fringed with hooks of the same colour as the head and plates.
Lithoxylea full-grown is about one and a half-inch in length, and stout in pro- portion, its brownish-grey ground colour has a slight fawn tinge in it, and is but little paler below the spiracular region, though the belly has a faint tinge of greenish ; the pulsating dorsal vessel is of a deeper tint than the back ; the upper lip darkish fawn colour, the antcnnal papillie a little paler ; the anterior legs fawn colour and often tipped with blackish ; spiracles black.
IPolyodon, when fuU gi'own, varies in length from one and a half to one and six- eighths of an inch, and is often very stout ; its colour is either grey, brownish-grey, or lurid deep reddish-grey varying in intensity, and there is a variety banded across the middle of each segment with darker grey than the ground colour, these band: are not abruptly defined but melt away to the palar gi'ound colour; another variety occurs in which the back is dark purplish-grey, changing gently along the spiracular region to a dingy brownish-red, which is on all the lower parts of the body, while the head is dingy purplish-red ; but, whatever the general colouring, the pulsating darker dorsal vessel shows in a subdued manner through the skin ; tvilhiii the area of the trapezoidal spots on the back there are on each se(j)ucnt,from the fourth to the twelfth, six pale grey marks, namely : a pair of iransrrrse short curved and
210 [Februan-.
pointed streaks, with their broadish bases separated only by a mere line on the middle of the bacJc, and rather close behind them four round dots, which range in a transverse row between the hinder j^air of the tubercular spots ; along the spiracular region the paler colouring of the lower part of the body is generally well contrasted with that above ; the spiracles black, sometimes grey outlined with black ; the upper lip greyish- brown, anterior legs the same colour though often spotted and tipped with black ; the black spots on the side of the third and fourth segments occasionally vaiy both in number and shape. — William BtrcKLER, Emsworth : November 28th, 1874.
Description of the larva of Ifocfua rubi. — On the lltli of July last, I received from Mr. Owen Wilson, of Carmarthen, half-a-dozen larvae of this species about half-an-inch in length. They grew rapidly on dock, and by the 23rd of the month were full-grown, when I took down a description as follows : — Length about an inch and a quarter, and rather stout in proportion. The head has the lobes rounded, but the front rather flattened ; it is slightly narrower than the second, and considerably narrower than the third, segment ; body cylindrical, and distinctly tapering towards the head ; segmental folds distinct, but not very conspicuous ; the skin soft and smooth.
The ground colour is pale olive-brown freckled witli darker brown ; head smooth and shining, of two shades of wainscot-brown; a smoky-brown pulsating line, inter- cepted through its centre by a distinct pale line, forms the medio-dorsal stripe ; a pale line, edged above and below with smoky -brown, forms the sub-dorsal lines ; and along the spiracles, a pale line extends, edged above with smoky-brown, and below with a broad pale yellowish-brown band ; the spiracles are distinct, black. The venti-al surface, legs, and prologs, are a semi-translucent dingy yellowish-green, freckled with minute brown dots.
The larvae of several species of the genus Noctua seem very closely allied, but rubi is without the usual dark transverse marks characteristic of a number of them.
When this description was taken, several of the larva) had already spun slight cocoons at the bottom of their cage, and changed to smooth shining-red pupse, and on the 9th of the following month the first imago emerged, the others soon followed. — Geo. T. Poehitt, Huddcrsfiold ; January 8th, 1875.
Additional captures of Deiopeia pulchella at FolJcestone. — I have a very good specimen of Deiopeia pulchella captured in the Warren, in the latter part of Sep- tember, 187 i. The captor (a mere beginner) took two, and several others were seen. The second specimen is that referred to by Mr. Briggs, in Ent. Mo. Mag., No. 127. — Henkt Ulltett, Folkestone : January lilh, 1875.
.At the request of several entomologists, I record the capture of a fine
male Deiopeia pulchella ; it was taken in the Warren on the 26th October last, and came into my possession alive the day of capture ; it is pronounced by Messrs. Briggs to be the darkest British specimen they have seen, the crimson spots on the fore-wings being particularly deep. — Waltee Blackall, 8, Guildhall Street, Folkestone : January, 1875. 0
1875.] 211
Nonagria hrecilinea, Fenii, Pliycis Davisellus, Newman, and GraphoJita <jrand- (Evana, Zeller. — A short time since, I seut specimens of tlieso three species to my friend Dr. Staudinger for examination, and have received his remai'ks upon them ; he says : —
" Nonagria brevilinea : I never saw it before, it is a very good species, and very " distinct from all others known."
" Phgcis Davisellus : This species has now been described four times. It is " without any doubt Nephopteryx genistella, Dup. Herrieh-Schiiffer was the second " who described and figured this species under the name of ulicella, from two males " foimd by the late Julius Lederer, in Andalusia, — the originals are now in my col- " lection. Then I reared a single specimen in Andalusia from a larva found upon " Ulex, and as at that time I did not know much about the Micro-Lepidoptera, I " sent it to Professor ZeUer, who thought ifmight be a now species, so I described it " the third time as albilineella, and Mr. Newman the fourth time as Davisellus. The " English specimens are a little darker than those from the South of Europe. I have ''received it from IVIontpellier."
" Qrapholita grandeevana : Your No. 1 is, doubtless, this species, but not a " reared specimen. A friend of mine reared it on the sea coast near Stettin, in great " numbers. The larvse feed on Coltsfoot (TussilagoJ, and make curious long tubes in "tlie sand." — Heney Doubleday, Epping : January IWi, 1875.
Obituarn.
Professor J. W. Zetterstedt. This veteran Swedish Entomologist died (we believe at or near Lund) on tlie 23rd December last, at the great age of 90, he having been bom on the 20th May, 1785. For many years he was Professor at the Univer- sity of Lund, and it is probable that his collections, which he retained to the last, will be deposited in the Museum of that Institution. Although the list of his separate publications is not lengthy, it includes several very valuable and laborious works on the Entomology of Scandinavia, and especially that of Lapland, which he visited for the purpose of investigating its insect-fainia. The most important of these works are the " Fauna Insectorum Lapponica," published in 1828 ; " Insecta Lapponica Descripta," published from 1838 to 1810 ; and the voluminous " Diptera Scandinavia} " in fourteen volumes, appearing from 1812 to 1860. To the exactitude and excellence of his works, all wlio have occasion to use them will bear willing testimony ; and to English Entomologists they have been, and are, of great service, owing to the similarity existing between our own insect-fauna and that of Scandinavia. By his death, a vacancy has been caused in the list of Honorary Members of the Entomological Society, he having been elected as long back as 1851. A similar vacancy occurs in the Ilonorary List of the French Entomological Society, wliieh lie joined iu 1833, being accorded the higlier distinction in 1858.
IJcuifiu.
The Microorapuic Dictionauy. Third Edition. Edited by J. W. Grifllth, M.D., Professor P. M. Duncan, F.R.S. ; assisted by the Rev. M. J. Berkeley, M.A., F.L.S., and T. Kupert Jones, F.K.S. 8vo. London, Jo)in Van Voorst, 1871.
212 C Ktbruarj-,
This laborious undertaking (which wc have previously had occasion to notice during the course of its publication in parts) is now completed, and forms a volume of 845 pages, with 48 plates (mostly coloured), and very numerous wood-cuts. About sixteen years have elapsed since the publication of the second edition, and during tliat time, in no other branch of Natural Science has there been so much real and rapid progress as in that to which the microscope is so indispensable a necessity for minute research.
Embryology, Histology, minute external structure, and the development of Cryptogaraic plants, have, each and all, proved themselves to be so intimately mixed up with all the important scientific questions of the day, that we can only surmise what Leeuwenhock and other old naturalists would have been able to do, and what revolutions in ideas might have been caused in the last and preceding centuries, if optical science had then been equal to their powers of observation. At the present day, microscopists appear to be divided into two classes. First, those who, being in possession of a good instrument, and a miscellaneous assortment of objects, examine these latter seriatim, and end with no further benefit than does the child who is pleased with the varied images exhibited in a kaleidoscope. Secondly, those who work with a definite object : — and every real Natui-alist will be found in this category. To either class tins work will be indispensable. Those who make the microscope a toy will find it necessary to increase their pleasures (and, perchance, may be led to higher aims thereby) ; those who work seriously will find in its pages that help without which many valuable hoiu's and days would be wasted.
Entomological Society of London : ^th December, 1874. — Sir S. S. Saundebs, O.M.G., President, in the Chair.
Lieut. H. C. Harford, 99th Eegimcnt, C. C. Bupre, Esq., of Coleridge Koad, Holloway, and Owen Wilson, Esq., of Cwmffrwd, Carmarthen, were elected Members ; and M. Greenwood, Esq., of Q.ueen's Road, Dalston, a Subscriber.
Mr. E. A. Fitch exhibited several oak-galls, illustrating his notes at p. 109 of the present Vol. of this Magazine, together with others that he had not yet been able to determine.
Mr. Champion exhibited a fine collection of Semiptera sent by Mr. J. J. Walker, by whom they were collected in various Mediterranean localities.
Prof. Westwood communicated a letter received from Mr. F. M. H. Slone, con- cerning damage occasioned to tea from Shanghai by a small beetle which proved to be Niptus hololeucus ; also a letter from Prof. Forel, of Lausanne, stating that Phylloxera vastatrix had appeared at Pregny, in the Canton G-eneva, on some vines that had been imported from England into the hot-houses of Baron Rothschild. With regard to a question put by Prof. Forel, as to whether out-door vines were infested in England, it appeared to the opinion of the meeting that the pest liad only been observed here in hot-houses.
Mr. C. O. Waterhouse read " Synonymic Notes on Longicom Coleoptera."
Ath January, 1875. — Sir S. S. Saundkrs, C.M.G., President, in the Cliair.
Mr. S. Stevens exhibited a bred example of Diloba cceruleocephala , in which the stigmatiform markings, ordinarily so conspicuous, were entirely wanting, and a striking variety of Hybernia defoliaria, both from Brighton.
1875.. 213
Mr. F. Smith exhibited a fine collection of Rymenoptera sent from Calcutta by Mr. Rotlmcj. It included may remarkable species, the most interesting being a new species of Xomia witli capitate antenna?, and Rhyiichhim transversnm attacked bv Sli/lops.
Mr. Grut exhibited a number of very small Mantidm in spirits, sent from Sarawak (Borneo) by Mr. Do Crespiguy, who termed them " Mantis-Ants," and staied that they appeared in a column marching across his table, each with its tail upturned. Some (at least) of the specimens had decided rudimentary wings ; but it was sug- gested that they formed a newly-hatched brood.
Mr. McLachlan mentioned that on the evening of the 3rd January, barely two days after the breaking up of one of the most severe and continuous frosts experienced for many years, the gas-lamps in his neighbourhood were frequented by hosts of Cheimatobla brumata, and asked the opinion of the Members present as to whether they had just emerged from the pupti-state, or had lived through the three weeks of hard frost ; a point upon which there seemed to be some difference of opinion.
NOTES OX. COLEOPTERA FROM SOUTH MOROCCO. BY TROYET BLACKMOEE.
During a stay of some weeks in the early part of 1874, at Mogador (S.W. coast of Morocco) , I obtained many Coleoptera ; and on my return to England, my friend Mr. H. W. Bates added to my collection a number of specimens captured by Dr. Hooker during his botanical explorations in the Great Atlas in 1871. As Mogador has been but little explored cntomologically, and Dr. Hooker's specimens were collected in a district never previously visited by a naturalist, the following record, supplemented by diagnoses by Messrs. Bates and WoUaston of several of the new species detected, may not be uninteresting.
My own collection was made under adverse circumstances, the winter being an unusually dry one, and as such, unfavourable for the oocurrcncc of Coleoptera ; and considerations of health not allowing me to make long excursions, or to work very liard. The unsettled state of the district at tlie time of my visit, moreover, rendered it imprudent for a stranger to go to any distance from the town, unless under tlie protection of a mounted escort : my collecting was therefore conflned almost exclusively to the immediate neighbourhood of the town, wliich looks about as unpromising a spot for a coleopterist as can well be conceived. The town is built on a reef of rocks running out to sea, and, seen from the anchorage in the bay, the surrounding land for many miles presents nothing to the eye but a succession of utterly barren sand-hills. Such is, in fact, tlie character of the country, except that, innncdiately behind the town, on its eastern side, is a long strip of flat, cbiycy ground, Bomewliat below the sea level, which, during the prevalence of certain winds, is covered to the depth of a few inches with brackish water, whicli percolates heneath the sand-hills lying between it and the beach. This water, liowever, speedily dis- appears, and tlie sui-face of the ground is then covered with Conferva and white crystals formed by evaporation. At the edge of this marsh (if it may be so called) is a scanty growth of species of Salicornia, and plants of kindred genera. These, with a few grasses and small plants found growing in moist spots caused by the leakage from an aqueduct by which Mogador is supplied with fresh water, comprise all the botanical wealth to bo met with in a two miles' radius of the town. To this
214 [Februarj-,
barren region succeeds a hilly district, cultivated in the immediate neighbourhood of the " douars," or native villages, but for the most part covered with a tliick jungle of Leniiscus, dwarf oaks, argan trees {Argania sideroxylon), and the single-seeded white broom (Retama rnonosperma) , replaced in the neighbourhood of the streams, which have their sources in the spurs of the Atlas, by tamarisks, oleanders, and other moisture-loving shrubs. I was only able to visit this fertile region on a few occasions, and imder circumstances which did not admit of my devoting much attention to its insect-fauna, otherwise I should have doubtless been able to bring back a far more extensive collection. Notwithstanding these drawbacks, I have a goodly number of specimens, including many species generally considered rare, and a few new to science. A complete list of my captures would occupy undue space, and I must therefore confine my observations to the most interesting species.
Of CioindelidcB I only took Cicindela Jlexuosa, F., which occurred in profusion near the sea shore, but I saw several of a large dark-coloured species.
Among the Carabidce, my most important capture was a series of Carahus stenocephalus, Faimn., allied to the far commoner C. cychrocephalus, Fairm., which occurs on the more nortlierly section of the Atlantic sea-board of Morocco. My specimens were mostly taken when feeding on snails {Helix erythrostoma, pisana, &c.), with which the stems and branches of all the shrubs in the fertile region are always covered. I took several specimens, however, on the barren sand near the town. Damp spots near the aqueduct yielded two Eastern species, Metahletns fuscomaculatus. Mots., and Tetrayonoderus arcuatus, Dej. ; the latter, reputed to bo met with in Egypt in dry sand, occurred in considerable numbers. In similar localities I took the widely distributed S/eiiolophus teutonus, Anisodadylus binotatux, Calathus micropierus, Aiic/iomenus pallipes, Anchomenus marginalux, and a variety of Acupalpus Liicasi, Gaub., differing from typical examples in its larger size, and in the pale basal spot on the elytra not extending to the suture. By the borders of the salt marsh I met witli Dyscliiriiis numidicus, Putz., Dichirotrichtis ohsolttus, Dej., and one Daptux vittatus, Fisch. In the same spots, Pogomis chalceus was common under dry ConfervcB, as was Pogonus Grayi, Wollast., a species also occurring in saline places in the island of Lanzarote. During an excursion to a village about twelve mQes from Mogador, I took several of Scariies gigas, and a couple of Platy- derus tenuistriatus, WoUast., hitherto represented by the unique imperfect type in the WoUastonian collection in the British Museum, captui-ed by Dr. Crotch in Tcneriffe twelve years ago. Single specimens of Sphodrus Favieri, Fairm., and LcBinofthenes vennstus, Clairv., occurred near the walls of the town.
Of water-beetles I obtained but few. Pale varieties of llydroporus Ceresyi, Aube, were abundant in brackish pools at the edge of the salt marsh, which localities also 3'ielded Philhydrus politii.i, Kiist. (a Spanish species), llelochares lividus, Beros^us qffinis, and the S. European Ochthebius pilosus, Waltl. I met -nnth a single specimen of a still undetermined Sydroporus in the dry bed of a stream, the " Wad-Diarbet," a few miles south of Mogador ; and Cyclonotum orbiculare was abundant at the roots of Samolus I'alerandi growing in damp places near the aqueduct.
The Brachelytra were far more abundant, but the species taken (about twenty- five in numbei') were for the most part of general distribution throughout Europe and the shores of the Mediterranean. I mayf however, mention Aleochara grisea,
18761 215
Kr., DoHcaon hccmorrhous, Er., Oxytelus plagiattis,J{.oseYii\.,\i\\iXi\. PoiderusiiXawt'icaX with a species from the Cape of Q-ood Hope, unnained in Dr. Sharp's collcctiou. Of this insect I captured three specimens under stones in the dry bed of the " Wad- Diarbet." Bledius taurus was abundant, burrowing under stones in the salt marsh ; Stenus guttttla occurred in profusion near the aqueduct, while the widely distributed Philonlhus xantholoma and sericeus were common under sea- weed.
Of Clavicornes, the minute Ptenidium punctatum occurred commonly under sea-weed and marine rejectamenta ; Mister major and \2-striatus were not unfrequent near the public slaughtering-place, where also I occasionally met with the conspicuous Saprinus semipunctalus. S. chalcites and co»ju)if/ens occuri-ed under dry camel's dung on the sand-hills.
The LameUicornia, as might be expected in a district destitute of pasture and vegetation in general, were but scantily represented. I met, however, with Ateuchus sacer in some numbers at a locality a few miles inland, where a few cattle are kept, and where I also obtained Onthophagas circumscriptus, Fald., and varieties of O. taunts. I took single examples of Aphodius ajffinis, Luc, and A. hydrochairis, as well as one of a small, species which I noticed in the collection of Signor Olcese at Tangier, labelled Aphodius jwlit as. The Mediterranean Psammodius sabulosus was common on the sand-hills j and, on hot days during the latter part of my visit, Pachydema anthracinum was not unfrequent, flying in the sunshine. I was also fortunate in capturing a specimen of Oxylhyrea femorata.
Of the Malacodermata, I met with but a single representative in the new species of Melyrosoma, which is characterized by Mr. WoUaston under the name of M. Blackmorei.
The Tenebrionidce were far more extensively represented, and my most numerous, and in some respects most interesting, captures appertained to this family. As is the case with all Moorish towns, such rubbish and animal or vegetable refuse as is not allowed to rot in the street, is carried out on donkeys' backs, and deposited immediately outside the city walls, the result being the formation of a series of extensive mounds far from pleasing to the sight, and exhaling odours anything but pleasing to the smell. But, however disagreeable they may bo in those respects to the orduiary traveller, these accumulations form excellent hunting-grounds for the coleoptorist. It was in these rubbish heaps, or their vicinity, that I made the acquaintance of what lias hitherto, I believe, been considered as an essentially Canarian species — Eulipus Brnllcei, Wollast., — which occurred very freely under pieces of old matting and decaying, disused, rush baskets and panniers, round wliich sand hn<l drifted. In similar habitats I met with five species of Blaps, including B. gages, sulcata, prodigiosa, and a species allied to, or a variety of, B. Haroldi, Kraatz. In the neighbourhood of these mounds I also captured Morica Favieri, Luc, Akis elegans, Clnirp., and Sraurus trislis. Pachychila was represented by a few specimens of P. sabulosa, Luc, Salzmanni, Sol., and Kiinzei, Sol. (?), and by P. impunctata, Fairm., in considerable numbers. It is possible that I may liave more tlian one species under the latter name, as I collected some specimens differing greatly in size from normal types, though apparently con-specific in other respects. Of the true Phaleria bimacidata, Ilerbst (not the spotted variety of P. cadaverina, sometimes so named), I captured two specimens under sea-weed, where also I met with an example of the cosmopolitan Alphilobiiis diaperinus. In ihe town itself, I
21G [FcbniaiT, 1875.
mot with Falvcra hispida, Brulle, liitliorto reputed to occur only in Lanzarote and Fuerteventura, tlio two eastern islands of tJie Canarian Archipelago. On submitting my specimens to Mr. Wollaston for comparison with Canarian individuals, he returned them as " P. hispida, var. b, attrita" with the following diagnosis : — " Prothoracis " angulis posticis paulo magis exstantihus, elytrorumque punctis vix ohsoletioribus.' They can hardly, however, be regarded as more than (if so much as) a geographical variety of the Canarian form, the degree of punctuation being variable in the latter. Pimelia was represented by P. cordata, IcBviuscuI-a, Fairmairei, and rotundipennis, Kraatz ; the last named being the most abundant. It varies excessively in size, specimens captured near the town being only half the size of those taken at a little distance inland. The fine Pimelia Fairmairei was locally abundant at a spot called " The Sultan's garden," about three miles S. E. of Mogador, where I also met with a few specimens of Blaps ecaiidata, Kiist. Halonomus salinicola, WoUast., abundant in Lanzarote, occurred in some numbers under stones at the edge of the salt marsh ; where also, under rejectamenta, I met with Anthicus hi.sjndus, Rossi, and two luide- termined species of that genus.
The season of the year was unfavourable for the occurrence of CurculionidcB, and I have few captures to record in that family. I may, however, mention Cneo- rhimis barcelunicus, Herbst, not unfrcquent on Retama monosperma, and a Mecinus and Cleonns probably new. The latter is allied to C. marcidus, from which it is distinguished by its larger size and differently shaped rostrum.
Of the Ph(ftophaga, I met with Timarcha rugosa and Chrysomela diluta, both found sparingly near the town.
My list is brought to a close by the mention of the frequent occurrence of the universal Coccinella T-punctata and a Scymnus. In concluding it, I may remark that I shall be happy to furnish any intending explorer of the Mogador district with every information in my power.
THE COLEOPTERA obtained by Dr. Hooker's party were few in mmiber, the energies of the party having been directed towards the formation of the rich her- barium which they brought to this country ; but the coUectioii included sevci-al species new to science.
Those obtained in the plain of Morocco consisted only of such species as are widely distributed over the country, and comprised Ainphicoma Ooudoti, Cast., Morica Farieri, Luc, Agapanthia irrorata, F., Lalidostomis rKbrijieiuiis, Luc. (in considerable numbers), and Chrysomela Banlcsi.
In the lower and middle regions of the eastern range of the Atlas chain (3,000 to 6,000 feet), described as possessing a singularly rich and varied flora, several insects of gi'eater interest occurred. These include two species of Pimelia ; one, described hereunder as P. malleata, WoUast., allied to P. monticola, Eosenh., which occurs in the sub-alpine regions of the Sierra Nevada ; the other, of which only one specimen was obtained, somewhat resembling the Canarian P. serrimargo, Wollast., from which, however, it seems distinct in several respects, and I have little doubt that it will prove to be a new species. A single specimen of the Gymnetron, described by Mr. Wollaston as lannginosum, was also obtained. In addition to these, Mr. Bates has specimens of Calathus circumseptus, Q-crm., a common species in Mediter-
Miirch, 1875.] 217
rauean districts ; and one of CaJathus opacus,\jnc.,n.n African form of C. vielano- cephalus. The Lamellicornia were represented by Aphodius sordidus and Oxylhyrea squalida, and by a single specimen of an Ateuchus, probably referable to A. laticollis, F., but distinguislied hy tlie neai'ly obliterated elytral sulci, which, however, are plainly distinguishable from the glossy instersticcs by their opaque surfaces. An undetermined Lampyris was common, and I have a few specimens of Jffo?v'ca-Fai'«er!, Luc, Mylabris olece, Cast., and Chrysomela Banksi, from these mountainous regions. Tlie rich forests with which the slopes of the Atlas were formerly covered, to a con- siderable elevation, have now almost disappeared, and the only wood-haunting species obtained was an example of the widely distributed Apate capucina.
The iieights of the Djebel-Tezah yielded six species (of which, half appear to be new), obtained, as I am informed by Dr. Hooker, " under stones " at elevations of from 9,000 to 11,000 feet ; one, at least (which I imagine to be the new Hopatrum), occurring at the very summit of the mountain (11,500 feet). The species collected comprised Cymindis Hookeri, Bates, n. s., C. leucophthalma, Luc., Hopatrum Hookeri, Woll., n. 8., specimens of Pachydema and Otiorhynchus not in sufficiently perfect condition to be determined, and an Agabus, considered by Dr. Sharp, who has carefully examined it, to be absolutely con-specific with A. consangtiineus, Wollast., but which seems to be far more shining (or less alutaceous) than typical examples foiuul in the islands of TenerifFe, G-omera, and Palraa, of the Canarian group.
Before ending (his catalogue, I must mention that Mr. Ball, one of Dr. Hooker's party, obtained, at Mogador, specimens of Sphariciis simplex, Wollast., at roots of Spargularia fimb)-iata, and a Fodagrica, apparently not referable to any described species. I am much indebted to Messrs. Bates and WoUaston and Dr. Sharp for their careful examination and determination of many of my doubtful species. — Tbovet Blackmoee, The Hollies, Wandsworth, S.W. : December, 1874.
p[n the above notes. Dr. Hooker's captures are stated to have been made in the eastern range of the Atlas mountains, whereas they were made in the eastern portion of the western section of the Atlas i-ange explored by Dr. Hooker. — T. B.]
DESCRIPTIONS OF NEW SPECIES REFERRED TO IN MR. BLACKMORE'S NOTES ON COLEOPTERA FROM SOUTH MOROCCO.
BY U. W. HATES, F.L.S., AND T. T. TVOLLASTOX, M.A., F.L.S.,
Cymixdis Hookeri, sp. n.
C. melanocephalcB (Dej.) affinis ; sed minor, gracilior, tola rufo-picea, breviter dense pubescens ; capite subcrebre punctata ; thorace angusto, cordato, angulis posiicis obtusisjfere rotundatis, supra iota punctata ,- elytris basin versus angusiatis, obtuse truncatis, punctulato-strialis, interstitiis omnibus jmnctulatit : palpis, antennis, pedibusque riifis. Lang. carp. 8 mil!.
Distiuguislicd from C. mchinocephala, I3cj., and the allied species, by its slender form and uniform pitchy-reddish colour, without trace of humeral spot on the elytra. The labial palpi are rather strongly- securiform. The thorax is relatively small, cordate, with the sides very slightly sinuated towards the base, and the posterior angles scarcely perceptibly advanced and obtuse. The elytrnl iiiter.-iticc.'iarf uuifonuly
218 [Marcb,
punctulated ; the punctures much stronger than in C. melanocephala, so that the three larger punctures of the third interstice are with difficulty distinguished.
Atlas : Jebel-Tezi ; alt. 10,000 feet. II. W. B.
Genus MELYEOSOMA. Wollaston, Ins. Mad., 253 (1851). Melteosomjl Blackmoeei, sp. n.
Jlf. lineari-elongatum, atrum, pilis Irevibus demissis grifseis vestitum ; capile prothoracequedenseruguloso-subpunctatis,illomagno,suhtriangulari-qua(lrato,convexo, hoc ad latera conspicue subrecurne marginato, antice in medio distincte canaliculato ; coleopteris valde profunde ac densissime suhseriatim punetatis fpunetis viaximisj, suturd eostisque trihiis utrinque fortiter elevatis ; antennis basin rerms tarsisque (elongatis) patdo dilidioribiis. ' Long. corp. lin. 2^.
Habitat, Morocco, in loco salino juxta oppidum Mogador a Doin. T. Blackmore captum, cujus in honorem nomen triviale proposui.
The large size of this Melyrosoma, as compared with the repre- Beutatires of the group hitherto made known (all of which are peculiar, apparently, to the Atlantic islands), in conjunction with its rather parallel-elongate outline, its considerably developed head, the somewhat recurved edges of its prothorax, and the very deep and coarse punctures of its elytra (on each of which latter there are the three usual elevated costse), will sufficiently distinguish it. A single example was found by Mr. Trovey Blackmore " under a stone in the salt-marsh behind the town of Mogador, in company with Salonomus salinicoJa ;'' but that particular habitat was clearly only an accidental one, the members of the genus being eminently flower-infesting in their modes of life.
T. V. W.
Genus GT]\INETEON. Schonherr, Cure. Disp. Meth., 319 (1826).
GTMXETROy LAKUGIXOSUM, Sp. 11.
O. paraleUo-oblongnm, depresmtm, immactdatum, atrum, siibopacum, longe cinereo- nigroque pilosum, antennis {capilulo obscuro excepto) tibiis tarsisque nifo-Jerrtigineis ; capite prothoraceque transversa densissime rtigoso-punctatis, rostro ad apicem leviter attenuato, ocicUs prominent ibus ; elytris (pggidiinn hand tegentibiisj depressis, ad latera parallelis, argide angiisteque sitbcrenato-strialis, inferstitiis punctitlato-nigu- losis i scapo lor^iusculo ; tibiis robiistis.
Mas : femoribus subtus dente acido armalis.
Fcem. : adhuc latet. Long. corp. lin. vix 2.
Habitat, Morocco, in montibus "Atlas" captum.
Judging from INl. Brisout dc Barue^ille's Monograph (Ann. Soc.
1875.) 219
Ent. Fr., 18G2), the present Gymnetron muet be closely allied to G. pilosiiin, Bef*sor, a species whicli occurs in southern Europe and the north of Africa ; nevertheless, it would appear to be not quite so large, and to have the autennje (except the club), the tibia?, and the tarsi, of a bright rufo-ferruginous ; and its elytra ai'e, I suspect, more straight- ened at the sides. It is depressed and black, and its entire surface is densely clothed with elongated cinereous hairs, which are intermingled with a few darker ones ; and its scape is somewhat lengthened, and its tibia) are unusually robust, for a member of this genus. T. Y. W.
Genus PIMELIA. Fabricius, Sj/sf. Enf., 251 (1775).
PiMELTA MALLEATA, sp. 71.
P. parva, suhnitida; capite prothoraceqve distincte et argute asperato-punctulatis Cpunctts in medio gradatim minutiorihiis, sed antice et versus latera majoribus, necnon in hoc in luberculos magnos transientihus) , h6c hrevi, ad latera valde rotundato, hasi sinttato, et utritique in disco plus minus irregulariter incequali : scutello parvo, scnti- formi; elgtris valde malleato-incequalihus, aut transversim grosse rugatis, fere pHnctoriim, grantilorum costarumque careniibus ; pedibus nigro-j)iceis.
Long. carp. lin. 6-62. Habitat in montibus "Atlas," a periiiss. J. D. Hooker, M.D., parce depreJiensa.
A very distinct little species, which may easily be known by its comparatively small size (for a Pimclia), by the conspicuous subas- perated punctules of its head and prothorax (the latter of which is considerably rounded at the sides), by its rather small and scutiform scutellum, and (more particularly) by the structure of its elytra — on which the punctures, tubercles, and costa? are almost obsolete, but which have their entire surface coarsely wrinkled, or transversely malleatcJ — the inequalities, however, becoming less decided as they approach the scutellum. The discovery of this species is due to the researches of Dr. J. D. Hooker, who met wiih it, as I am told by Mr. Blackmorc, in the "middle regions" of the Atlas range.
T. V. AV.
Genus IIOPATIIUM. Fabricius, Syst. Ent., 76 [script. Opal rum] (1775).
lloPATRUM IIooKEBi (Blackmorc, in Hit.), up. n.
IT. oblongum, nigrum, rugulosum, opacum,subralvum {sc. sul)iilissime,hrevissime , et parcissime griseo-pubescens) ; genis ante oculos valde esslantibu.1, rotuudato- angulatis ; capite proihoraceque deme, profunde, et confuse a.iperato- (aut granulaio-) punctafis, hoc lalo, ad latera a>quallU'r rotundato, angulis posticis acutis, postice in
220 [March,
medio obsolete carinulato ; elytris antice prothorace angustioribus, kumeris acute anffulatim exstanlibus, obsolete ptinciato-striaiis, minute sed vix dense granulatis, interstitiis alleruis obsolete obtuse elevatis ; aniennis tarsisque rufo-piceis.
Long. corp. Tin. vix 4. Habitat editiores montitim, " Atlas," in ascensu Djebel-Tezah (inter 9,000 et 11,000 s. m.) a clariss. Doct. J. D. Hooker repertiim ; necnon in honorem captoris amicd mente a Dom. Blackmore dicatum.
■Well distinguished amongst the Ilopatra by its rather largely- developed and equally-rounded prothorax (which, together with the head, is closely and coarsely subpunctate-granulate) , by its nearly bald surface, and by its elytra (which are a little narrower anteriorly than the prothorax, and have their humeral angles acute and prominent) being less densely sprinkled with much smaller granules, and with their alternate interstices obtusely and obsoletely raised. I have had much pleasure in retaining for it the name proposed by Mr. Blackmore, who is desirous to place on record the obligations of entomologists to Dr. Hooker for the interesting Coleoptera brought by him from the hitherto unexplored regions of the Atlas. T. V. W.
ON THE AEEANaEMENT OP THE BRITISH ANTHOMYIIDJE.
BY R. n. MEADE. (concluded from page 203.)
Mtdjia. — I have placed in this genus a number of species mostly of considerable size and oval form, which differ from those in the genus Syetodesia by having naked eyes, and from those in Spilogaster by having unspotted bodies. Macquart placed them in the second division of his genus Aricia ; and Schiner and Rondani have included them in Spilogaster ; they appear, however, to form a more natural group than many others that have been raised to the rank of genera. I have adopted the name of Mi/dcen, as it had been applied by Dcsvoidy to M. pagana and to one or two others of the leading species in the genus.
In this and the two preceding genera two thoracic bristles are placed in front of the transverse suture, in a line with four behind it, in all the British species I have examined, with the exception of Uij- etodesia leeta, which has only three behind the suture.
Spilogasteh. — This genus, as its name implies, is characterised by the species having the body spotted ; four, or sometimes six, dis- tinct and often triangular spots being arranged in pairs (one on each side of the median line) on the dorsum of the second, third, and some-
1875.] 221
times of the first, segments of the abdomen. The arista is always furnished ^v-ith distinct, though sometimes short, hairs, and the eyes are naked.
The number of thoracic bristles in the line beyond the suture (two always being in front) varies from three to four ; they are always constant in number, however in the same species, and are therefore of great specific value, sometimes enabling two otherwise closely allied species to be at once pronounced distinct.
The flies in this genus are generally smaller, more oblong in shape, and altogether less highly developed than those in the preceding genera. The species are rather numerous and difficult to name.
Htdeophoeia. — This genus, of which H. conica is the type, is characterised by the species having plumose antennae, naked eyes, un- spotted oblong or oblong-conic bodies, and subanal genital appendages in the males. There are four thoracic bristles behind the suture, the last or hindmost of which is always smaller and weaker than the others. This is only a small genus.
Detmeia. — This genus is very well marked, but only contains a single species, which may at once be recognised by the elongated, bent, and pointed proboscis. This fly, named D. hamata, is black and very hairy, has the thoracic bristles arranged two iu front and three behind the suture, and has the arista furnished with very short hairs, by which character it forms a connecting link to the species in the next sub-division. D. hamata may be found in some places in abundance in the autumn, upon the flowers of the cuiiiiiuu hawkweed (IZieracium jyihscllci) and other Compositcc.
OxoDONTiiA and IIydrot^a. — These two genera may be mentioned together, as they only difFer by having the eyes hairy in the former and naked or very slightly tomentose in the latter. The species of both may at once be known from all the other Anthomijudce by the anterior femora of the males being furnislied with one or two teeth near the end. The corresponding tibia^ are also mostly notched.
The dorsal thoracic bristles are six in juiiiiber, two in front and four behind the suture. These two genera form a very natural group. II. mcteorica and other allied species swarm in woody places, and tor- ment horses, especially in (himj) warm weather.
Lasiops. — This is a very artificial genus, formed by Meigen to include a few abeiTant species which have a naked arista and hairy eyes. One (Z. cunctons) closely resembles an Oriodoniha, only the anterior femora are without teeth ; anotlici- i^ vei'V like a IIi/r(odcsia,
222 [Mai'cli
with the exception of having a naked arista ; and a third, which is very common, is so similar to an Anihomyia, except in its hairy eyes, that it has been named by Eondani L. aniliomyinus.
Ophtra. — The typical species in this small genus (O. leucostoma) is characterised by the curved hind legs, dark metallic blue-black oval body, naked arista and eyes.
LiMNOPHORA.— This genus is so closely related to SpiJognstei', that it is rather difficult to define the limits between them. Thus Schiner includes in Limnopliora all those species with spotted oval or oblong bodies, and naked eyes, which have a short haired arista. B-ondani, on the contrary, restricts it to those only which have quite, or nearly quite a naked arista, and, at the same time, have the tibiae of the mid- dle pair of legs furnished with one or more seta? or short bristles on the middle of their external as well as posterior surfaces, in addition to the usual apical ones. He thus contracts the genus within very narrow limits, and I think it better to do so, as we can then define it accurately ; for it is found that in all the spotted species Avith a plu- mose arista, whether long or short haired,formiug the genus S])ilogaster proper, the middle tibiae have no bristles on their external surfaces. In this and the two preceding genera there are six thoracic bristles.
HoMALOMTiA. — This is one of the best defined and most natural genera in the family. The species may be recognised at once by having a smooth semi-circular head, without any projecting angles, and by the eyes being very large and extending much lower over the face than in the species of other genera, so as to cover the cheeks. The alulets are small, but the lower scale is not quite covered by the upper one. The abdomen is rather elliptical and flattened, and is very commonly figured on the dorsum in the males, with a central line of triangular marks. The shortness of the anal vein of the wings, with the curving of the axillary vein towards it extremity, is very character- istic of this and the following genus.
The males of these common little flies, the best known of whic-h are S. caniciilaris and S. scalar is, are often seen sporting in troops in the air in summer, performing aerial dances after the manner of the TipiiUdcB.
AzELiA. — This small gcniis, named Atomogaster by INfacquart, may be known at once from Ilomalomt/ia by the species being of a velvety-black colour in the males, and having a narrow cylindrical abdomen marked by three rows of dots, which are so arranged as to form a series of triangles. •
1875. ; 223
The males of these pretty little flics are usually found in greater abundance than the females, hut I have frequently caught the latter upon the droppings of horses and cows in the roads and fields. They doubtless deposit their eggs in the dung.
AxTHOMTiA. — The restricted genus Anthomyia contains the last batch of species in the division, having the scales of the alulets of unequal size. The flies comprised in it have a bare, or nearly bare, arista, and differ from those in the two preceding genera by having the head more or less angular ; the face and epistome often projecting considerably. They also have the anal vein prolonged to the margin of the wing. The shape, as well as the colour and markings of the abdomen, vary greatly, and the genus is not upon the whole a natural one, biit requires subdivision. The typical species of this genus are A. pluvialis and A. radiciwi.
In the last three genera, the species, with a few exceptions, have five dorsal bristles upon the thorax, two in front and three behind the suture.
HTLEirriA. — This genus so closely resembles Hi/drophoria, chiefly differing by the smaller and equal size of the scales of the alulets, that the two have been included in one by Schiner and others.
The abdomen is oblong or rather cylindrical, and generally fur- nished with subanal appendages. The dorsal bristles are five iu number, but, as in Hjjdrophoria, a sixth smaller one is often placed behind the others. This genus includes a large number of species.
CiiORTOPHiLA. — This is also a large genus. Many of the species resemble, iu general appearance, those of Hylemyia, having cylindrical bodies and subanal appendages, but differ by the arista being bare ; others are closely allied to the Anthomyice, but have the scales of the alulets of equal, instead of unequal, size. Many of the species iu both these last genera are small and diflicult to name, the descriptions of authors not being sufficiently precise, or not based upon character- istic points of structure.
EnvpuJA. — I have included this genus in the British list, but I have not yet seen a specimen of the single Alpine sjiecics which it contains.
LispA. — In this and the succeeding genera the eyes are widely separated in both sexes. The species contained in the present one may at once be recognised by the form of the palpi, the extremities of which are dilated into flattened knobs. Thev are not common.
224 [March,
Cakecea, — -This and the foui' succeediug genera have all been included by Meigen, Macquart, Scbincr, and others, in the genus Ccenosia ; but they dii^er from each other, as I have pointed out in the analytical table, by the relative size of the alulets, as well as by the state of the arista. These genera, upon which I shall not further dilate, include a considerable number of small flies, many of them found by sweeping among grass and herbage. They are of various shapes and colours, and only agree in having the eyes distant in both sexes. Their bodies are mostly spotted. The number of doreal bristles varies considerably in the different species ; thus there is only one in front of the suture, and three behind it, in Caricea tigrina and Ccenosia sexnotata ; while in Caricea ciJiacosta and Ccenosia niqripes there are two in front and four behind : again, other species, as Ccenosia meditata, have two in front and three behind ; while, therefore, these dorsal bristles are very valuable specific characters, they are here of no use in a generic sense.
In concluding these few remarks upon the Anihomi/iidce, I beg to say that I shall be much obliged to any entomologist who will forward any specimens of this family for my inspection, and I Avill undertake to return them named as accurately as is in my power.
Bradford, Yorkshire : December 1st, 1874.
ON ASPEONDYLIA ULICIS, TRAILL. BT G. H. VEEEALL.
In the number of the Scottish Naturalist for October, 1873, Mr, J. W. H. Traill describes a gall found on JJJex europceus on Scotston Moor, near Aberdeen, and slightly describes the perfect insect, which he names Asplwndylia ulicis. Thinking a more detailed description advisable, in order to confirm Mr. Traill's name, I wrote to Mr. W. A. Vice asking for specimens, and he sent me two long ago ; but, owing to their ha\ ing fared badly in travelling, I did not attempt to de- scribe them. Last August, I was collecting in company with Mr. J. Scott between Poole and Bournemouth, and when glancing over a few Diptera he had in his collecting bottle, I remarked that one resembled the AspJiondi/Jia sent by Mr. A^icc, and, looking at the first piece of furze by my side, I noticed the galls in abundance. Upon my return home, I found that when I visited Bournemouth in July, 1871, I had caught half-a-dozen of the insect, having, no doubt, been attracted by its large size for a Cecidomyia. With the help of these, I therefore give a short description.
'8-'-i 225
AspHONDTLiA ULicis, Traill, Scot. Nut., ii, 172 (1873).
<? ? ; brovrnisli-black, paler on the breast-sides and about tlie humeri ; frons, face, and palpi yellowish ; abdomen shining dark brown, sides generally paler, male genitalia yellowish, of moderate size, ovipositor rather short, needle-shaped, deep yellow ; antennfB in both sexes 13 (2 and 11) jointed, not quite so long as the body, blackish, each joint after the two basal ones slightly decreasing in length up to tlio two last joints, which are equal, stouter, and distinctly shorter than the rest, thus forming a slight knob ; the antenuse of the female ^eem slightly the longest. The halteres and legs in dried specimens are generally yellowish, the tarsi being darker, but they xary in all stages up to blackish-brown, the coxa; being somewhat greyish. "Wings iridescent, slightly greyish, the third longitudinal vein ending in the tip of the wing, being slightly curved near its tip, the small transverse veinlet which should connect this vein with the one above it near its base seems altogether absent, at least, I am unable to detect it in the eight specimens I have before me ; the insect in best condition has the costa densely fringed with blackish-yellow hairs, and the disc of the wing moderately clothed with dark coloured hairs, but all these seem to rub off very easily.
Length, 2^ lines ; expanse of wings, about 5 lines.
All the above notes are made from dried specimens.
Bred from galk which closely resemble flower-buds, but which are larger and more inflated ; " monothalamous, enclosing a large cavity " in which there is not a trace o£ the inner whorls of the flower. Walls "lined with a short white pubescence, on which the larva feeds" (Traill, I. c). I expect this species is very common, but overlooked, as the first time I searched for it after making its acquaintance at Aberdeen, I found it in abundance, though nearly 500 miles away. In some of the galls at Bournemouth was a large whitish larva, many times the size of the Asphondi/I ia larva, from which came I suppose some TTynienopterous parasites which I found when looking at some old galls in a box. Query — can they get suificieut nourishment from one larva or gall ?
I believe this is the first gall reported to be found on the furze ( Ulex europceus) ; but though, the genus Asphondylia is still a very small one, species of similar habits are described from Snrothamnus scoparius, Cijlisits austriitciis, Genial a gernianica, and Ononis ajnnosa ; A. snrothanini, Lw., i.s smaller than A. uliciSjUnd lias different antenna), the male having them 2 and i;f jointed, with the Icrmiual joint only verv small ami round, wliih' the female has thcni 2 and 12 juinled, much shorter than in Ihe male, and still Hmallcr at the tip ; the ovi- positor seems also much longer. A. ojtiai, Frfhl., is about the right size, but has the antennaj 2 and 10 jointed, with the terminal joint short, A. gpnisfcr, JiW., is also about the riglit size or even larger, but
220 [March,
is insufficiently described, being only distinguished in its descriptions from A. sarothamni by its greater size, and by the different Habitat of tbe larva ; A. ononidis, Fr. Lw., has the antennae 2 and 12 jointed, and all the 12 joints of equal length. A comparison with the species not infesting the Pajnlionacece, or those described by Walker without any notice of their habits, is unnecessary, as A. ulicis is not likely to be confounded with the former, and cannot be identified with the latter without comparison of tyj:)es.
The Mulberries, Denmark Hill, London, S.E. : February 8lh, 1875.
DESCEIPTIONS OF EROPALOCESA FROM MADAGASCAR BY W. C. HEWITSOX, F.L.S.
Mr. Henley Smith has received a collection of butterflies from Madagascar, taken by Mr. Crossley. The collection, although abound- ing in fine species, does not, unfortunately, contain much that is new. Of these, I give descriptions of the most remarkable. There are specimens of the rare Sceteropsis Drepana figured in the " Genera," and with them one example which, though very different in colour, is no doubt the female. This I have also described below.
Papilio Mangoura, sp. n.
Upper-side : black. Eoth wings ci'osscd at the middle by a com- mon grey-blue baud, broadest at the middle, commencing at the costal margin of the antei-ior wing, where it is furcate, and ending near the anal angle of the posterior wing, where it is also furcate, its outer border dentated on the anterior wing, sinuated between each pair of nervures on the posterior wing ; both wings sj)otted with white on the outer margins. Anterior wing with a sub-marginal series of white spots. Posterior wing tailed, the end of the tail marked by a minute white spot, a small spot irrorated with white above the anal angle.
TInder-side : rufous-brown. The band of the upper-side repre- sented on the anterior wing by lilac-white scales and a grey spot on the inner margin ; on the posterior wing by a narrow, straight baud, irrorated with lilac-white.
- Exp., 3 To inch. ,
1875. 227
At first sight this species appears as though it belonged to the 2^ireus group. It is, however, more closely allied to P. Lalandii.
Melanitis Masouea, sp. n.
Uj)j}e>'-side : $ , white, slightly tinted with lilac and yellow. Both wings dentated on the outer margin. Anterior wing with the costal margin dark brown, broken into spots towards the apex ; marked in the cell and below it by a yellow spot. Posterior wing deeply den- tated ; some spots of the under-side seen through.
Underside : white. Anterior wing with the yellow spot as above, the costal margin spotted with black chiefly near the base, marked by a small ocellus between the first and second branches of the median nervure. Posterior wing undulated with black on the costal and inner margins, crossed near the outer margin by six black ocelli, irroratcd with white or yellow, the pupil white, the outer margin and a sub- marginal liue black ; three or four indistinct spots of brown between the ocelli and the outer margin.
Exp., 3io inch.
IliETEEOPSIS DllEPAXA, ? .
Upper-side : white tinted with yellow. Anterior wing with a brown spot at the end of the cell, the apex broadly dark brown, pointed as in tlie male, and marked by two minute white spots, a band of brown near the outer margin ; a black ocellus with white pupil between the first and second branches of the median nervure.
Underside : rufous-whito, undulated throughout with dark brown. Anterior wing witli llic npex In-own, ni;ii"kcd by three white spots, an indistinct band from the apex to the inner margin before its middle. Posterior wing with a similar transverse band, clouded with rufous- brown, which is marked by some minute white spots near the aiuil angle.
Exp., 2xx5 inch.
The male, though brown below, is marked as in the female. It is irrorated with white at the apex of the anterior wing, and on the outer border of the transverse band of the posterior wing, which is crossed towards the outer margin by a scries of minute white spots.
Oatlands, Woybridgc :
February, 1875.
228 [March,
ON CERTAIN BRITISH HEMIPTERA-ROMOPTERA.
BY JOHN SCOTT.
Desceiption op a species new to Britain.
aenus IDIOCEEUS, Lewis.
Species Idioceeus Hetdenii, Kirsclib.
Idiocerus Seydenii, Karschb., Cicad., 155, 6 (1868).
? . Pale browuisli-testaceous or somewhat rust coloured. Croum witb two small black spots on the anterior margin, each nearer to the eyes than the centre. Pronotum with a pale, almost white, narrow, central, longitudinal streak, and an oval spot o£ the same colour on each side. Scutellum with a pitchy-brown triangular spot near each basal angle. Elytra : nerves at irregular intervals alternately bro-waiish-testaceous or rust coloured and white. Claims with a large whitish patch around the apex of the central nerve. Corium : nerves of the apical areas pitchy-brown, finely but distinctly punctured.
Head — crown very pale testaceous with a narrow, almost white central hne, con- tinued on to the frons ; on the anterior margin adjoining each eje a more or less distinct, round, almost white space, margined by pale fuscous, and with a small black spot in the centre. Face : termination of the pale central line enclosed by a more or less distinct brownish patch ; disc with a brown 9 -shaped character. Antennce pale testaceous ; setce similarly coloured.
Thorax — pronotum pale brownish-testaceous or somewhat rust coloured, with a narrow, longitudinal, almost white central line, and a largish oral spot on each side, as also a few minute ones of the same coloiu* ; at the apex of the anterior margin of the oval spots, a more or less distinct minute black spot. Scutellum somewhat whitish, with a dark ^^ -shaped transverse channel, below which, on each side of the centre, is a pale brownish-testaceous longitudinal streak ; basal angles with a pitchy-brown triangular spot ; disc, above the transverse channel, with a more or less distinct, small, pale brownish-testaceous spot. Elytra palo brownish-testaceous or somcwiiat rust coloured; clavus : inner marginal nerve between the seutellar angle and the apex narrowly pitchy-brown, central third white ; round the apex of the central nerve a somewhat large whitish patch ; disc at the base next the elaval sutiu-e whitish ; corium : nerves alternately but irregularly pale brownish -testaceous or rust coloured and white ; disc irregularly marked (more or less distinctly in different individuals) with whitish patches; an- terior marginal nerveround theapex,and the longitudinal nervcsof the apicalareas, pitchy-brown, the latter finely but distinctly punctured ; nerves of the ante- apical areas posteriorly, finely but distinctly punctured ; appendix ample, pale fuscous. Legs somewhat rust coloured ; thighs : 3rd pair with a narrow, black, longitudinal line along the upper and lower margins of the inside ; tibia : 2nd and 3rd pairs down the inner margin with a black line, exteriorly at the base . brownish ; tarsi : 1st jomt brown ; apex of the 3rd and claws black.
1875.] 229
Abdomen beneath deep testaceous with uioro or less of a rusty tinge.
Length, ? , 2i lines.
This species belongs to the section in which the males have the plate near the apex of the antennco. It stands near I. Jlturaius, but has not the apparently interruj^jted and irregular transverse band below the apex of the clavus, as in that species, and the colour is totally different. When the insect is in repose, the white patch at the apex of the central nerve of the clavus, common to each elytron, is very distinct.
I have only seen two females taken by Mr. Douglas at Darcnth Wood, in October, 18G6.
This is one of the three species referred to by me at page 81, vol. X, of this Magazine, which I was at that time unable to determine.
37, Manor Park, Lee, S.E. :
February, 1875.
OX CEETAIN BEITISH HEMIPTJEEA-SOMOPTERA.
BT JOHN SCOTT.
(continued from page \4Q.J
CICADULA, Zett.
This is a group of insects which I think the author originally brought together on account of the great external resemblance of many of the species. They are twenty-three in number, and divided by him into eight sections, which he defines, principally, by the number and form of the apical areas of the elytra, and the neuration of the wings. These are excellent characters, so far as they go. But, as the genitalia of the whole of the Somoptera have since been ascertained to differ much in structure, and play an important part in determining genera and separating species, it cannot be wondered at that Cicadida should cease to be retained as a genus.
Flor, in the Rhyn. Livl.,vol. ii (ISGl), divides the species between two genera, viz., Jassus and Typldocyha ; but there cei'taiuly is not, 80 far as is known, a European representative of the genus Jassus, Fab. This arrangement cannot hold good any more than that of my friend the Rev. T. A. Marshall, who subsequently described the ]3ritish species in the Ent. Mo. Mag.
Fieber, in the Verb. z.-b. ISGG, p. 505, Wicn, takes as his types of Cicadula two species, C. quadripuiictata , Fall., and C. (Jass.) Jenes-
230 [March,
trata, H.-Sch. These lie afterwards abandons, and consigns to the genus TJiamnotettix, Zett., and in his " Kat. der europaischen Cica- dinen" (1S72) adopts C. cyance, Boh., as his type. In the Catalogue he has referred the seyeral species of Zetterstedt's genus to various genera which I partly adopt in the present instance. As I riew matters, we at present possess four species, of which one is new, and whether it is the insect standing in Pieber's Catalogue under the name G. frontalis, I have no means of ascertaining, as the specimen I sent him for determination some years ago never was returned, nor is there even a sketch of it amongst those in the possession of M. L. Lethierry. I may add that it is very possible for Boheman's beautiful species, C cycmce, to be added to the list by some one who has the good fortune to live near where water-lilies grow, to which plants, he says, that species is attached.
In the table, which follows hereafter, I give sufficient characters to determine any of the species, O. sexnotata is, perhaps, the com- monest of British Somoptera. C. variata comes next, but *l-notata has only, to my knowledge, been taken by the late Mr. T. J. Bold and the Eev. T. A. Marshall.
CICADULA, (Zett.) Scott, Fieb., p., nee J. Sahlberg.
Head — crown .- anterior margin gently rounded, scarcely acuminate in the centre, length about equal to half the width between the eyes on the concave basal margin, ^yes, viewed from above, spherical triangular ; outer margin pro- jecting beyond the sides of the pronotum. Ocelli on the anterior margin, near each eye, and visible from above. Face convex, about as long as between the eyes measured on the frons. Clypeus : apex reaching to or very little beyond the lower margin. LorcB sub-oval. AntenncB placed in a small cavity at the lower corner of each eye.
Thorax — pronotum twice as broad as long ; posterior margin straight or vei-y faintly concave, rounded towards the shoulders ; lateral margins convex. Scutelliim triangular, apex acute. Elytra with four apical areas ; the first transverse nerve dividing the ante-apical from the apical area at, or close to, the apex of the claval suture.
Abdomen : $ , last genital segment above with a projecting tube of greater or less length ; underneath, genital valve triangular, its base extending across the entire breadth of the abdomen ; genital plates long, triangular, outer margin sometimes convex.
Section A.
Crown, with six black spots, the two on the anterior margin largest, and continued
on to the frons, frequently the spots are united. Face witli transverse black
streaks. Elytra yellowish, with more or less distinct, fuscous, longitudinal
' streaks between the nerves ? 1. sexnotata, Ya\\.
1875.] 231
Eltftra greenish or pale greenisli-white witli deep brown or piceoiis streaks before and
bejond the middle ; apex of the claTiis broadly brown or piceous.
2. frontalis, sp. n. Section B.
Crown with four blaek spots, placed, two between the eyes and two on the anterior margin, continued on to the frons. Face without transverse black streaks. Elytra yellowish. Clavus with a large white patch, common to each elytron, margined with fuscous. Corium with a dark brown or fuscous spot about in a line with the apex, of the clavus, and another of the same colour ad- joining the apical ai'cas 3. variata, Fall.
Elytra bright yellow, without markings. Face with a black spot at the apex.
4. 7-iioiala, Fall.
ClCADULA FEOXTALIS, Sp. 11.
Fieb., Kat. dor Europ. Cicad. Wien (IS72) ?
Section A.
Cro'Nvn ■witli six black spots.
$ . Greenish or pale greeuish-wliite. Croion witb two black spots on either side between the eyes (fi'cquently united), and another in front (the largest), passing over the anterior margin on to the frons. Face with a short, fine, longitudinal, black line, and 4-5 transverse ones of the same colour ; pro7iotuni with a more or less distinct brownish or piceous patch on each side of the centre. Scutellum with a triangular black spot adjoining each basal angle. Elytra with several elongate and more or less united piceous streaks. Legs yellow ; 3rd pair of thighs with a longitudinal black streak down the centre.
Head yellow or greenish-yellow. Crown with six black spots, the two in front the largest, and passing over the anterior margin on to the frons. Face with a short, fine, longitudinal black line, and four to five transverse lines of the same colour ; side and apical margins very narrowly black ; lorce narrowly margined with black. AiitenncB pale brownish ; selee fuscous towards the apex.
Thorax — ^ronotum : pale yellowish or grccnish-white ; disc with a large, more or less distinct, brownish or piceous patch on each side of the centre ; anterior margin with a short, transverse, sometimes interrupted, blaek streak extending from the inner margin of the eyes towards the middle ; lateral margins generally with a small black spot towards the anterior angle. Scutellum ycWovr, with a triangular black spot adjoining each basal angle ; transverse channel very narrowly black, its extremities terminating in a minute black spot. Elytra greenish or pale greenish-white. Clavus : inner marginal nerve from the base to beyond tlic scutellar angle black, then pale yellowish ; apex black ; disc, with three short brownish or piceous streaks running diagonally from the scutellar angle, these are sometimes united, but generally the nerves and a very narrow line next the claval suture are pale ; apex broadly brown or piceous ; claval
232 L March,
suture very narrowly black. Corium : nerves pale ; down the claval suture a brown or piceous streak, widest at the apex ; anterior or costal area with a small brown or piceous patch in the middle, inner nerve at the base narrowly brown ; discoidal and ante-apical area, in a line with each other, brown or piceous ; central ante-apical area with a brown or piceous patch near the base, its lower margin frequently prolonged in the middle into a tooth ; apex with a more or less defined brownish patch ; apical area, in a line with the discoidal area, brown or piceous ; appendix somewhat brownish. Legs yellow ; thighs : Ist pair on the inside with a row of spots next the upper and lower margins ; 2nd piceous, base and apex yellow ; 3rd yellow, with a longitudinal black streak down the centre ; tibicB with a brownish shade ; 1st pair : outer margin with a narrow, black, longitudinal line ; 2nd with one, 3rd with two rows of black punctures set in pairs down the outer margin, between which are a few smaller ones ; apex narrowly brown ; spines brown ; tarsi yellow ; apex of all the joints narrowly, and claws, black.
Abdomen above, black ; posterior margin of the segments and sides narrowly yellow, last segment more broadly margined than the others ; beneath yellow, anterior and side margins of the segments black ; last genital segment above, black, beneath and sides yellow ; the spiuose hairs brown. Length 11 line.
"When the insect is in repose, the following greenish or pale greenish-white characters are perceptible on the elytra : — Clamis : base broadly and a smaller space round the apex of the central nerve, common to each elytron ; corium .- base broadly ; disc posteriorly with two narrow streaks, as also the anterior or costal area. Larger and stouter than C sexnotata, and with the markings on the elytra more distinctly defined, somewhat as in C. variata.
All tte specimens captured are females. They were taken by the Rev. T. A. Marshall in a swampy place near Lastingham, in September ; no doubt some weeks too late for the other sex.
(To he continuedj.
NOTES ON BRITISH HEMIPTERA.
1. Orthostiea nioeina and maceophthalma.
I have a British Orthostira in my collection which agrees with the description of macrophthahna, given by Messrs. Douglas and Scott in your December number, p. 173, in having two rows of meshes on the sutural area of the elytra, but disagi-ees in having a pale 3rd joint to the antcnnte. I have also before me two specimens of a species from Scotland, sent to me by Mr. Champion, agreeing with their notes on nigrina, but having black or very nearly black antcnnfe. Now, the arrangement and number of the meshes in my specimen with the pale antennae is not the same on the two sides ; on one the sutural area has two regular rows of meshes extending almost to the apex of the discoidal cell, on the other a third row is set up about the middle of the suture ; this woidd suggest that the number and disposition of the meshes may be a variable character. The colour of the aptennte also might depend on the
i8:5.j 233
maturity of the specimens, and as there appears to bo no dilTerenec in the compara- tive tliickness of the antennas in tlie specimens before me, I ain inclined to think that the nigrina and macrophthalma of Messrs. Douglas and Scott may be varieties of the same species.
I see that Messrs. Douglas and Scott have corrected several errors in the synonymy, &c., of our Hemi^tera, but I think the following corrections still want making.
2. Q-EOTOMiTs PTJNCTTJLATrrs, Costa.
^thus IcBvis, D. and S. For this synonjnny I have to thank Dr. Puton, to whom I sent specimens.
3. Beetttjs, n. sp. ?
B. Signoreti, D. and S., nee Fieb.
Fieber places Signoreti in the division " membrane wide, nearly a half wider " than corium," which also includes montivagus. Now, in our species the membrane is not so wide as this, and is no wider than that of cognatus, which Fieber puts in the next division. The markings of the membrane on ours are also much less dis- tinct than Fieber's description would suggest. This latter character, of course, may be variable. I have, however, two specimens from M. Meyer-Diir sent to me as Signoreti, Fieb., whicli agi'ee exactly with Fieber's characters, and are quite distinct from our British form, being similar in shape to montivagus, with the same largely rounded membrane, but easily distinguishable from it by several characters. These, I .believe, to represent the true Signoreti, Fieb., and if I am correct, our British species will require a new name.
4. Nysifs beunneus, Fieb.
N. Scotti, E. Saund., E. M. M., vi, 1.
While correcting what I believe to be other people's mistakes, I am glad to have an opportunity of correcting one of my own. I am indebted to Dr. Puton for the above synonymy. I have also recently received a specimen of Nysius helveticus from M. Frey-Gessncr, of Geneva, the characters of wLicli appear identical witli those of the present species, and unless I am mistaken, A. obsoletus, Fieb., must be a very nearly allied species, if distinct.
5. Campylostik.v brachtcera, Fieb.
C. verna, D. and S., nee Fall., nee Fieb.
Fieber describes and figures verna with only one row of meshes on each side of the thorax. Messrs. Douglas and Scott describe verna as having two rows of meshes in front and one behind, a character also of hrachgcera ; from this I suspect that their verna is only the developed form of hrachycera; whereas, verna, Fall., Fieb., is a distinct species.
C. Phytocoeis tilije.
P. mamioratus, D. and S. I must hero declare my conriction that marmoratun, D. and S., is only a dark variety of tilicB, although I think Mr. Scott still believes them to be distinct. lean perceive no structural difference whereby to distinguish them ; nor can I see any difference in the position or arrangement of the markings. Tilice is a very variable species ; and I have a series which I feel sure would prove to any one that marmo- atus is only one of its extreme varieties.
234 [March,
7. Genus? — OBSCITEELLFS, Fall.
Atractotomus pini, D. and S. I am indebted to Dr. Puton for this synonymy ; he places the species in the genus Agalliastes, but I cannot think it belongs there, neither does it seem to me to agree with Atractotomus, although closely allied to it. I think it might well be considered as the representative of a new genus.
8. TiNICEPHALirS OBSOLETFS, D. and S.
This species, following Fieber's views, must be removed from this genus, the only British exponent of which is hortulanua, Mey. The wing cell has no hook, the character of the division in which Tinicephalus occurs ; how Fieber came to put it in this genus I know not, as it has to me neither the shape nor the look of a Tini- cephalus. I should have called it a Litosoma, but if it is to enter that genus it3 name will have to be changed, as an ohsoletus already exists therem.
9. PSAILFS ALNI, Fab.
P. dilutiis, D. and S., ? Fieb. I have had an opportunity, through the kindness of Mr. Douglas, of examining one of the type specimens of dilutus, D. and S., and]'so far as I can judge, it is simply a pale specimen of alni, Fab. Fiebcr'e dilutus appears from his description to be a large species, in fact the largest of the genus, — long. 2s lin. ; whereas dilutus, D. and S., is only 1^ lin. — Edwaed Saunders, 2, Spencer Park, Wandsworth.
OBSEKYATIONS ON THE FOKEGOIXG NOTES.
1. Obthostiea nigeina and O. maceophthalma.
The question involved is not yet removed from the domain of opinion, and it awaits the solution to bo derived fi*om facts. — J. W. D.
2. GeOTOMUS PTTNCTULATrS.
I am not disposed to question the accuracy of the identification made by Dr. Puton.
In the Ent. Monats., viii, p. 233 (18G4), Dr. Fieber referred his previously described C. Helferi to the older C. punctulatus, Costa, so that it is evident he knew the latter species ; but when, in 1868, I sent him Ai^t/ius Icevis, D. and S.,hc not only did not recognize it as C. punctulatus, but, comparing it with the latter and C. ni- gritus, pointed out differences which he considered made it distinct from both.
Mulsant and Eey, in the " Punaises de France," ii, 36, 1 (18GG), not only fol- lowed Fieber with regard to C. Ilelferi being equivalent to C. punctulatus, but added to the synonyms, C. hifoveolatus, II.-S., and C. aciculatus, Fieber, and made the species the type of the new genus Geotomus. Mr. Saunders argued in the Ent. Mo. Mag., viii, 110 (1871), that our British insect was only a variety of C. ni- gritiis, Fab.— J. W. D.
3. Beettus Signoeeti, Fieb.
My examples agree with Fieber's description, including the breadth of the membrane referred to, and one of them was named by Fieber himself, so tliat there is no doubt of the correctness. Mr. Saunders's insects, not agreeing with the de- scription, may possibly be the B. pggmcEus (Fieb.), Lethierry, Cat. des Ile'mipt., 2nd ed. (1871), or one of the new species described by Eeuter (Oef. Vet. Ak. Forh., 1870), or by Ferrari (Ilcmiptera Agri Ligustici, 1871). — J. W. D.
18T5.] 235
5. Camptlostira terna, Fall.
I have put the uniqiie British example under the microscope and find that the second row of meshes mentioned in the " British Hemiptera " as being on the front of the side margins of the pronotum is so stated in error, the said row of transparent meshes being really on the pronotum,"adjacent to, but not on, the margins. Our species is the true Tinrjis verna, of Fallen. The question raised in the " British Hemiptera " as to it being the developed form of C. hrachycera is still un- determined.— J. TT. D.
6. Phttocoeis MARMORATtrs, Doug. and Scott.
Surely Dr. Fieber, to whom this insect was sent with reference to its specific distinctness, must have also been possessed of specimens of P. tili(B with which to compare it ; and with his experience he would not certainly even have had a doubt about its difference. The insect must stand under the above name. — J. S.
7. OBSCtTEElIUS, Fall.
Atractotomus pint, Doug, and Scott. As long ago as May, 1868, in the Ent. M. M., iv, p. 268, our specific name for tliis insect was changed to pityophilus, Flor, as we had then received specimens of the last named from Flor proving the insects to be the same, and although we since became aware that further investigation had shewn this species to be identical with the Phytocoris obscurellics, Fall., we did not consider it necessary to make a further correction in this ilagazine, as we are engaged upon the Catalogue of British Item- ipfera, shortly to be published by the Entomological Society, in which this, as well as other corrections, will appear. The discovery that our insect was identical with P. obscurellus, Fall., was first pointed out by Renter, in the Ocfv. Vet. Ak. Furh., 1873, so that Dr. Puton merely followed him. — J. S.
8. TiNiCKPHAXtrs OBSOLETUS, Doug. and Scott.
We are content to let the insect stand where it is, as we believe the foxmder of the geims to be the most fit person to point out what he meant by it. — J. S.
9. PsALLCs Aixi, Fab.
Ps. dihilus, Doug, and Scott, ? Fieb. "We are willing to give credit to Mr. Saunders for his judgment, as far as it goes; but, becau.se Fieber in his Eur. Hem. cites P. dilutu.i as the largest species in the group, and Mr. Saunders has examined the insect in question, and finds only a difference in shade of colour and size, we consider the matter to rest where it was. Besides, Fieber may have given the size of the insect at 2\ lines instead of 1 J line in error, or it may have been an overlooked error of the printer's. — J. S.
J. "VV. Douglas and J. Scott, Lcc : February, 1875.
Helophorus tuberculalus in Yorkuhire. — I have nuich ]>leasnre in recording the capture of this insect, in June last, in one of our Moor Bogs, where ISphininum abounds. I identified the specimen from the description in tlie November immber of this magazine, and Mr. Rye has compared it with oTie of the examples taken near Manchester. — T. Wilkinson, 1, Cliff Bridge Place, Scarborough : February, 1875. •
28(5 [AlRroh,
Natural Ilistory of Syrlchthus alveolus. — Last summer, at the end of May and beginning of June, I captured a score or more of these butterflies, and shut them up in a glass cylinder with bramble sprays ; they would not, howcTer, spare me more than seven or eight eggs, which were laid on June 2nd or 3rd. The larvae began to hatch on June 12th, and by the 18th four had come out ; the rest died in the egg, having begun, but not being able to complete, their liberation from the shell. Three also of the four larvae, that had been safely hatched, soon died, but the survivor throve and grew ; by July 9th, it was one-sixth of an inch long ; by 17th, nearly half-an-inch long : about August 1st, it moulted for the last time, and soon attained its fidllength of about five-eighths of an inch, afterwards increasing only in stoutness ; after the end of August it remained apparently dormant for days together, eating only at intervals ; and about September 20th it became a pupa. Meanwliile, on July 29th, I had found another larva in the locality where I took the imago, which very nearly corresponded in growth with my bred example, but it unfortunately died without changing. Throughovit, observation of their appearance was very difficult, owing to their habit of living in concealment, and, in fact, I believe the mortality wliich pre- vailed among my small stock was owing to disturbance caused by attempts at peeping, measuring, &c.
Probably, in freedom, the perfect insect has some constant method of depositing her eggs ; but the few I had, having been laid in confinement, seemed to be placed on the upper or under sides of leaves, or on stems, indiifei'ently : however, I think the newly -hatched lai"va (unless, perchance, as I have lately on reflection thought, it may prefer the blossom) chooses the upper surface of a small leaf for its habitat, and, settling itself along the midrib, at once spins several silken threads overhead for a covering, and feeds under that by eating away the outer cuticle ; and when it has made a blotch of some little extent, it moves away, and repeats the process on another leaf: as it grows bigger, still choosing the upper surface of a leaf for its stand point, it forms its covering by drawing down another leaf over it, fastening the edges here and there with stout threads, and feeds away in the cave thus formed: when, however, it has attained some size, it think it must come out of its cave and eat the neighbouring leaves in the usual way, but I only once or twice saw either of my lai-va3 thus exposed of its own choice ; the habit throughout the larval state is to be very sluggish, and a great part of the time must be passed by the larva in resting with its head curled round sideways towards its tail.
In the very limited time I coidd devote to searching for larvre, I found numbers of deserted caves, and only one tenanted, and this seemed to prove that my examples in confinement acted pretty much as they would have, had they been at large ; as mentioned above, I gave the butterflies bramble sprays to lay on, and I searched brambles for the larvae, and came to the conclusion that stunted bushes witli small leaves had the preference, the large juicy leaves of strong bushes apparently offering no temptation. I did not omit to look for the other plants on which the larva has been said to feed ; in the same locality were some half-dozen plants of mallow {Malva moschata), but I am positive they bore no traces of larvae ; and there wee not one plant of teazle. The wild strawberry, Fragaria vesca, has been suggested also as a likely plant, and I think it woidd probably occur wherever the butterfly is seen ; but, as far as I feel justified in giving an opinion, I do not think there is any need' to look for anything more than the hramhlef ltubii.<! fruficosus.
187.V ^gy
The egg i? globular, with base rather flattoiied ; the shell ribbed ratlier irregularly with about eighteen ribs, and transversely recticulatod with very even fine lines, which do not stop at the ribs, but cross them, giving their edges a rough appearance which is not real, but only caused by the ribs, otherwise translucent, becoming opaque where the lines cross ; as usual, a small space on the top of the egg is covered only with very fine concentric reticulation ; the colour is a very pale green all over.
The young larva makes its escape by cutting a large round hole through the top of the egg ; in colour it is very pale green, with head and collar shining black ; every tubercular dot bears a pale bristle, longish and straight on the head and thirteenth segment, but on the other segments bifid, with the tips curved on either side like an unbarbed double fish-hook. When about one-sixth of an inch long, the colour is pale puqjlish-pink, the head still black ; when nearly half-au-inch long it is pale green again, the whole skin now thickly set with short straight hairs ; the bifid bristles having been parted with, I imagine, at the first moult. "VVheu full-grown, the length is rather over five-eighths of an inch, the figure very stout, the head horny, globular, and stuck like a knob on the second segment, which, however, is not so strikingly narrow as in Thanaos Tages ; the skin granulated in appearance ; the head and whole body covered thickly with short fine pale hairs ; the general colour a pale ochreous- green, the second segment pinkish, and a faint reddish tinge over the back of the other front segments ; a thin dorsal, and somewhat broader sub-dorsal line, not easy to be seen, of ground colour, and a faint spiracular line : the spiracles not much darker than the ground colour ringed with the same tint as the lines ; the belly freckly ; the head and collar very dark purplish-brown, the upper lip paler.
The pupa is enclosed in a cave between two or three leaves, similar to that in which the larva lives, but fastened with stouter silk, and the openings protected by a loose pale yellow webbing ; its length is not quite half-an-inch, the figure thick and stumpy ; the eyes prominent, the wing-cases well developed ; the whole skin rather rough ; the middle of the head, the eyes, and the back set with short stiff hairs : the ground colour reddish-grey, the wing-cases pinkish-grey; the abdomen tinged with brownish-red along the back ; on the centre of the head, on the eyes, and on either side of the thorax above the wing-cases, are some blackish-brown marks ; there are smaller marks in pairs down the middle of the thorax, and there arc transverse rows of spots on the segments of the abdomen, the largest and darkest being next the wing-cases; the hairs are light brownish-red ; the anterior spiracle black, the others of the grey ground colour, ringed with black, and placed within the largest dark blotches. — Joiix Hellins, Exeter: February 11///, 1875.
Occurrence of Myelois cirrigerella, Zk., a species tieiv to BrUain. — Specimens of this interesting little addition to our list of Phycidic were submitted io Mr. Barrett, who kindly forwarded them to Prof. Zellcr for determination ; and he has now returned them with the above name. They were taken June 30th, 1S71, at light in the neighbourhood of Marlborough, Wilts ; some eiglit or nine specimens came in the course of the evening, but I only secured four in a condition worth setting, as they manifested a most pernicious affection for the flame of my candles ; the remain- der succeeding in self-immolation. I did not meet with more on subsequent evenings, which I attribute principally to somewliat unfavournblo weather. Some of the
238 [March,
specimens were quite fresh, others considerably worn. I suspect that June 20th will be about the time to look for it in general, and that it is out only for a short time. It flew between 11 and 12 p.m. I add a brief description, which, I trust, will enable others who may meet with it to recognise it.
Exp. al., 9 lines. Paljji moderate, porrected. Head and thorax bright yellow. Fore-wings glossy, rather pale brownish-ochreous, yellower towards base, immaculate. Hind-wings grey. Cannot be confounded with any other British species. When alive it has a very smooth and glossy appearance, and the yellow thorax is conspicuovis.
Nothing appears to be known abroad of its earlier stages, but I think it possible that the larva may feed in decayed wood.*— E. Meteick, Trinity College, Cambridge : February 2nd, 1875.
Notes on some Tineina ohserved in 1874. — The spring commenced early, and included some very warm weather, the effects of which were noticeable during the summer in the accelerated development of several species.
Laverna epilohiella, Romer : I met with a few larvce of this on the 22nd of June, then nearly full-fed, and expected they would have formed their cocoons simply " among the leaves of their food-plant," as is recorded ; but each larva mined out a small space in a fresh leaf, and constructed its cocoon within it, nearly filling up the space.
Tischeria dodoncBa : I was led to the discovery of the larva of this insect here in a rather singular way : — Having found a few larvae of a saw-fly (Blennocampa) in August, on oak, I took home a few twigs of the plant to feed them on, and in a few days after I noticed on a leaf of one of the twigs a minute reddish-brown spot which grew daily somewhat larger, and when it had attained a diameter of one-fifth of an inch the darker concentric rings characteristic of this species were distinctly traceable under a lens. I visited the place where it was found in the beginning of October, when I collected about twenty larvae. At the same time and place occurred the four British species of Tischeria.
Tischeria angusticollella : found several nearly full-fed larvre of this on the 10th of August, but secured only a few, not thinking, until after arrival home, that possibly some of them might attain the imago state before next spring, which, how- ever, some of them did, as I bred three before the end of the month ; and, on visiting the place where they occurred on the 22nd of the same month, I saw one leaf con- taining a mine of this insect, with the empty pupa-skin projecting from it. No larva; of this species were observable in September, but in October many were found, all quite young at the middle of the month, none being full-fed before the 21st.
Lithocolletis viminieUa : bred this from willow as well as sallow.
Cemiostoma Wailesella : collected numerous larva; of this on the 10th of August, expecting to breed the moths next spring, but some of them were not inclined to wait 80 long, for twenty-nine appeared between the 21st and the end of Augiist, and others in September. They were kept under gauze at an open northward window. I noticed a pair in copuhX. — J. E. Fletchee, 9, Pitmaston Road, Worcester : January 2'lth, 1875.
* We think this habit scarcely probable. — Eds.
1875.]
239
Helicopsyche-cases from SiJckim. — Lord Walsingham has just submitted to mo for examination three cases of IleUcopsyche from Sikkim, which he found (labelled ' Talvata') in a collection of shells belonging to Mr. J. Ponsonby. This, I think, is a new locality for cases of this nature. They are small, the largest 4 mm. in diameter across the lower end, the smallest 3^ mm. ; formed of very coarse grains of sand, with a considerable admixture of quartz. All are closed by an operculum, shewing concentric structure. For reasons already referred to by me in the Journal Linn. Soc, Zoology, toI. x, p. 201, I refrain from giving a name to this form. — E. McLachlan, LcTfisham : February 2nd, 1875.
A probable heliciform case-makiiiij larva among the Curculionidce. — Some time ago, Mr. II. AV. Bates gave me some heliciform cases sent to him in a collection of Coleopfera from Monibas, East Africa, by the Eev. T. Wakefield. Mr. Bates tliought they might be IleUcopsyche cases : but, as they were made of tough silk, with some vegetable substance interwoven into it, and had an opening at the smaller end, I concluded at first they were Lepidopterous, and allied to Psyche helix, the cases of which they much resembled, though miich larger. I cut all open. One was empty ; another contained the remains of a larva which did not appear Lepidopterous ; a third, to my astonishment, held the debris of a beetle of the family Curculionidce, and apparently allied to OtiorhyncJius. No notes concerning them accompanied the consignment, but as all other insects in it were beetles, it is just possible that Mr. Wakefield was duly aware of the nature of the cases as belonging to the Coleoptera ; and I think it best to record the facts as they presented themselves to me, in order! that the matter may not be lost sight of. — lu.
Entomological Society of London-. 2hth January, 1875. — Sir S. S. Saunders, C.M.G-., President, in the Chair. — Anniversary Meeting.
After the reading of the Treasurer's Accounts and Report of Council for 1874', the Society proceeded to the election of Council and Officers for 1875. Messrs. A. G. Butler, G. C. Champion, F. P. Pascoe, and the Rev. R. P. IVIurray were elected in the place of outgoing Members of the Council. Sir S. S. Saunders was re-elected President, Mr. McLachlan Treasurer, Messrs. F. Grut and A. G. Butler Secretaries, and Mr. Janson Librarian.
The President read an Address, which was ordered to be printed, and the Meeting terminated.
lat February, 1875. — The President in the Chair.
C. Livingstone, Esq., of Tudor Road, Snaresbrook, was elected an ordinary Member ; and M. A. Salle, of Paris, a Foreign Member.
Mr. S. Stevens exhibited a curious variety of Nocltta glareosa, in which the ordinary dark markings between the stigmata in the anterior-wings were almost obliterated.
Mr. Cliumpion exhibited Amara conlinua, ti species reeenllj' ilelected as British (see Ent. Mo. Mag., No. 120, p. 207).
Mr. II. Druce exliibiled selcetions from a collection of Ithopalocera recently received fnnn Sanlarem.
2J.0 [March, 1675.
Sir S. S. Saunders exhibited a nest of Polistes gallica from Corfu, partly manu- factured from play-bills posted near where it was found, and shewing the various colours of the paper used by different 'strata' in tlie cell walls. In connection with this exhibition, and with Sir John Lubbock's recent remarks (at the Linnean Society) on the power ascribed to bees and other social Hymenoptera of communicating facts as to stores of food, &c., he mentioned that he had placed this nest (containing larvae), with one imago, outside a window, but within Venetian blinds, covering it with a tumbler, which was removed in the morning, when the Polistes sallied out, and in due time brought with her two companions to assist in feeding the larvae. Strangers intentionally added from other nests were attacked and driven away.
Mr. F. Smith stated that iie had introduced CoUetes cunicularis (a bee taken a few years ago in the Isle of Wight, and subsequently near Liverpool) into suitable localities at Shirley, in April, 1872 ; and in 1874 Mr. H. D'A. Power took an indi- vidual there (which was exliibitcd) proving that the attempt at colonization had been so far successful.
Mr. Butler read ' Contributions to the Rhopalocera of Austi-alia." Mr. W. A. Lewis read a paper on ' Entomological Nomenclature.' The President nominated Messrs. J. W. Dunning, F. P. Pascoe, and J. Jenner Weir as Vice-Presidents for the year.
IZth February. — The President in the Chair.
F. H. Ward, Esq., of Springfield, near Tooting, was elected a Member.
Mr. Phipson exhibited a singular variety of Sirenia clathrata from Basingstoke, the vmigs being nearly unicolorous (fuscous), with a few pale spots.
Mr. F. Smith exhibited a further collection of Hymenoptera from Calcutta, sent by Mr. Kothney. It consisted of 1573 individuals in beautiful condition, but with probably not more than twenty-five undescribed species.
Mr. Verrall exhibited a number of living fleas, taken two days previously from the ears of a i-abbit near Lewes ; they were gregarious in this situation, which con- dition he thought might be owing to the animal being unable to remove them by Bcratching, owing to the pendant nature of the ears. In connection with this subject, he alluded to a communication made to him by Mr. McLachlan, regarding a species of PidicidcB from Ceylon, living gregariously, and closely packed (affixed by their probosces) on a small portion of llie skin of the neck of a fowl, as exhibited at a recent meeting of the Microscopical Society, and in the possession of Mr. Curteis, of 244, High Ilolborn. He had once found a nimiber of fleas just before the tail on a dog's back, thus, also, in a position from which the animal could not dislodge them.
Mr. Colo said he had found fleas in a hedgehog ; and Mr. W. A. Lewis had observed them on a marmot in Switzerland.
Mr. Dunning called attention to a recent extract from a French paper, in wliich it was stated that a paint could be manufactui-ed fi'om cockchafers.
The Rev. R. P. Murray stated that Mr. Edwards, the author of the magnificent illustrated work on ' North American Butterflies,' was desirous of obtaining pupie of Pievis napi.
April, 1S75.] 211
NOTES OX UUGXATA FROM NEWFOUNDLAND, COLLECTED IN 1874
BY MR. JOHN MILNE.
13Y THE BARON E. DE SELYS-LONGCUAMPS. LiBELLULINA.
Leucorrhinia hudsonica, Selys (Rev. cles Odonates, p. 53), 1 ^ from White Bay, similar to my type.
COBDULIIIfA.
Cordulia Shurtleffi, Scudder (Selys, Syn. Cord., p. 31), 1 ? .
EpitTieca cingulata, Selys (Syu. Cord., p. 68, ? ), 2 (5^, 3 ? , from White Bay and Boiiavista Bay. The following is a description of the cj , which sex was previously unknown to me : —
Length of abdomen, 40 mm. ; of posterior wing, 37 mm.
Wings scarcely tinted ; the anal border of the posterior slightly ochraceous in the anal triangle next the merabramde, this latter black, white at the base ; neuration black (the costa slightly brown exteriorly up to the nodus) ; pterostigma brown, placed between two thickened black nervules (1 mm. long) ; discoidal triangles with transverse nervules in all the wings (or aberrantly free in one), followed by two to three cellules, and afterwards by two rows of post-trigonal cellules ; 8 — 9 ante-cubital nervules, 6 — 7 post-cubital, in the anterior wings. Ilead and thorax bright bronzy- brown ; lower lip yellow, the upper shining blackish ; rhinarium yellowish ; occiput, vertex and front bronzy-blackish, the latter yellowish at the sides. Front of the thorax somewhat coppery-green {ivithoiit pale bands). Abdomen bronzy-blackish, the sides of segments 1—3 pale bi'own ; terminal sutiu'e of segments 2 — 9 forming a yellowish circle. Legs black ; the anterior and intermediate femora reddish-brown ; the posterior femora not swollen. Anal appendages black. The superior equalHng the 9th and 10th segments (1 mm. long), distant and acuminate at the base, almost straiglit and cylindrical in their first third, abruptly elbowed and turned downward, one against the other, at a slightly obtuse angle in their last third, the slender points crossed and curved upivard ; they arc pubescent, and have, at their base exteriorly, a small acute tooth, and the elbow is thickened exteriorly, forming a tubercle {hut not a tooth). Inferior appendage one-third shorter; viewed laterally slightly curved upward ; the apex nearly as broad as tlie base, truncate, and even forked, in con- sequence of the two external angles being slightly prolonged and curved upward.
N.B. — The form of the appendages proves that this species is allied to tenehrosa. It is separated from it especially by the yellow circle at the abdominal sutures, by the very long pterostigma, the absence of pale bands on the sides of the thorax, the femora not swollen, and, finally, by the inferior appendages ])eing furcate at the apex. It much resembles albicincta, but in the latter the inferior appendage of the (J is triangular, and the vulvar scale of the ? strongly bilobate.
Epitheea forcipatfi , Scudder (Selys, Syn. Cord., p. Gl), 1 ? , from
242 [April,
"White Bay. The coloration is very similar to that of the $ of eJongata. It is of the same variety noticed from Port Resolution, and differs from the European arctica by the two conspicuous oval yellow bands on the sides of the thorax,
^SCHFINA.
j^schna hudsonica, n. sp., 1 c?, 4 ?, from White Bay (also Canada) .
Length of abdomen, <? , 59 mm., ? , 55 ; length of inferior wing, $ , 49 mm., ?,50.
<J . Very similar to juncea in size, coloration, the two yellow bands on the front of the thorax, and the two broad bands on the sides, as well as in the three little tubercles on the 10th segment, hut the pterostigma is slightly shorter and blackish.
$ . Separated horn juncea by the shorter pterostigma (3i mm. in length ; 4^ in Juncea of the same size).
^scTina clepsydra, Say. (?), 2 $ , one indicated as from Castor River. Similar to the ? of my collection (received from Dr. Asa Fitch), but my ^ from Canada does not correspond with Hagen's description. The ? differs from Jmdsoniea by the face having a trans- verse 2^ale red line between the front and the nasus (this line is hlack in hudsonica and juncea). Separated from horealis by the eyes being less longly contiguous.
GOMPHINA.
OompJius ?, 1 ^ , from Terra Nova River, only just emerged.*
I cannot determine the species, because the appendages are not in a condition for examination. However, from the size and coloration it appears to be allied to G. parvulus, Selys (of Nova Scotia). It is important to note the excessively short and numerous spines of the posterior femora, which arc very useful as a clue to the inferior groups of the genus Gomphus. The appendages of this individual (in the state they are now in) have some analogy with those of Opliiogomplms.
Ageionika. u^naUagma loreale, n. sp., 1 cJ, 1 ? , the former from "White Bay.
Length of abdomen, ^ , 21\ mm., ? , 24 ; inferior wing, <? , 18 mm., ? , 19.
Stature and coloration of eya^/^jjreriiOT, but differs as follows : — $ (1) The blue post-ocular spots rather broader. (2) The black superior " comma " {virgule) of the second lateral suture of the thorax prolonged into a line on the suture up to the base of the posterior logs. (3) The sides of the 1st segment of the abdomen with a fine, oblique, curved black mark, parting superiorly beyond the base and touching the end of the segment posteriorly. Under-side of the 2nd segment black, this colour
* Mr. Miluc \v,as iire.?ent at its birth. I poeecsB the pviparium.— R. McL.
1875.] 248
dilated and forniiug two angles near the goiiital organs. The po.sterior dorsal spot T-shaped, Tvith the upper line of the T broadly lunate, and the tail thickened. The iijiper-side of segments 3 — 6 with a black posterior spot analogous to those of cyathigenim, but broader laterally, in form of terminal rings touching the ventral suture, which is broadly black ; these spots include (against the posterior articulation) a blue mark, and are somewhat notched near the ventral suture on the 5th and 6th segments, whereas, on tlie 3i'd and 4th they arc prolonged into a fine line towards the base along the ventral side. (4) Anal appendages analogous ; but tlie superior (half as long as the 10th segment) thicker when viewed from above, because the point which exists in cyatJiigerum before the apex is here transformed into a little plate, almost square, inclined downward, one directed against the other, almost as in ebrium, but smaller ; viewed laterally these appendages are thick, as long as the lOtli seg- ment, yellow, black at the point, slightly tliicker and more erect than in cyathigerum. $ . The ground colour is pale reddish, the spino of the 8th segment long. It differs from cyathigerum as follows: — (1, 2, 3, see the description of the $) ; (4) The second segment lias no black baud, but a simple dorsal posterior spot, almost as in the ^ , lanceolate anteriorly ; the bronzy spots less extended above on the 3rd to 6th segments, not commencing till after the 1st quarter, where they are pointed, and then suddenly dilated in the last tliird (as in the $).
N.B. — The two sexes differ from all the allied species by the oblique black line on the sides of the Ist segment, thus resembling A(jrion conciniium. (This line is found in ^. rohustum, n. sp., from California, of which I know only the $ , but this is allied to durum, having four ante-nodal cellules, and not three as in all the other species). The ^J is also unique in the sub-genus by the black ventral band of the second segment, and the ? by that segment having only a einiplo hastate dorsal spot, and by the eighth segment being pale rod. By the internal plate-like internal dilatation of the superior appendages it approaches ebrium, but in tliis latter the inferior appendages are equal to the superior, and the coloration of the abdomen is quite different.
Liege : February, 1875.
[Note. — The materials from which this paper has been drawn up were coUected in various parts of Newfoundland by my young friend Mr. John Milne, F.G.S., wlio has spent two sumnicrs and atitumns in Newfoundland. Before starting on his last expedition I urged him to collect any insects he might find, believing that less is known of the entomology of Newfoundland than of any other British colony. He brought an extensive miscellaneous assemblage in all orders, but prin- cipally Lcpidoptcra. The few individuals in other groups of Neuro- ptera are scarcely worth noticing at present ; but there was a very line ^ specimen of Ncuronia postica, Hag. — E. McLaciilan.]
24i t^p^'
OX A COLLECTION OF BUTTERFLIES MADE BY MR. JOHN MILNE IN NEWFOUNDLAND.
BY H. W. BATES, F.L.8.
Mr. John Milne, during his above mentioned journey round New- foundland last year, collected sixteen species of Diurnal Lepidoptera. No notice of the productions, in this department, of this part of North America having, as far as I am aware, been published, I have un- dertaken at his request to name the species, and draw up the present list of them. It will be seen that the butterfly-fauna of New- foundland offers some peculiarities (as compared with that of the United States), and further additions wdll be looked for with great interest. That many more inhabit the island cannot be doubted, inas- much as the present collection contains no Colias or Hesperiidae, and furnishes much fewer species than the more northerly region of Labrador, concerning which an excellent paper was published by Moeschler in the Wiener Entomologische Monatschrift.
Papilio Turnus, Lin. Both sexes, agreeing closely in size, colours, and markings with specimens from Nova Scotia and West Canada, but differing much from others found in Southern Atlantic States, being smaller and paler, and having much narrower black borders to the hind- wings :
Found in the latter half of July at Bonavista Bay and in other localities, about long grass on the borders of rivers.
Papilio Irevicauda, Saunders, in Packard's Guide, p. 278. Many examples, nearly all females, from Betts Cove and Terra Nova River.
Although this is evidently only a local form of P. Asterius, it differs so much in form, as well as in markings, that it well deserves a distinctive name. The single male brought home by Mr. Milne is too much shattered for compai-ison, but the ? shows a strongly rounded outer border to the fore-wing, and the caudal lobe of the hind- wing is not more than half the length of the same part in the ordinary Asterius of the Atlantic States.
JPieris oleracea, Harris ; var. frigida, Scudder, Proc. Best. Journ. Nat. Hist. (18G1), p. 181. The common species of Pieris of New- foundland. Mr. Milne's numerous specimens are from St. Heliers, Bonavista, St. John's, and other localities. As a rule, they are more strongly marked with black than the oleracea of the States, not only along the veins, both above and beneath, but at the bases of the wings and apex of fore-wing. Some females are scarcely distinguishable from the dark-veined variety hryonice of the European P. napi, and have the dusky sub-discal spots of that species ; in no male, however, have I remarked the sub-discal spot.
1875.] 245
One Bpecimen of this butterfly was taken at tlic small isolated iblet called Fuuk Island, to the east of Newfoundland.
Argynnis Freja, Thunberg. Two examples. Compared with specimens fi'om Lapland, the Newfoundland form is decidedly of a brighter (/. e. more orange) colour on the upper surface, and the black submargiual circumflexes are detached from the marginal spots, this latter feature probably arising from the smaller dimensions generally of the black markings. Beneath, all the characteristic mai'kings are the same as in the Lapland Freja ; but the general colour of the hind- wing is ruddier, and the central black flexuous band is less black ; the marginal buff triangles in shape are rather linear than triangular. All these differences are so many points of resemblance to A. 2)olctris ; but on comparing the Newfoundland Freja with a specimen oi polar i8 from Labrador, I find that the two differ far more than they agree. The distinctive characters are well pointed out by Moeschler in his paper on the Lepidoptorous Fauna of Labrador (Wiener Entom. Mo- natschrift, 1860, p. 339).
Argynnis Charidea, Schneid., Hiibn. One specimen, Betts Cove. Agrees well with Lapland specimens.
Argynnis Atlantis, W. H. Edwards, Proc. Ac. Nat. Sci. Phil., 1862. Many specimens, agreeing with others from the Catskill Mountains, New York, sent to me by Mr. Edwards.
Vanessa (Qrapta) comma, Harris. One example, agreeing with specimens from New York, sent me, under this name, by Mr. AV. H. Edwards.
Vanessa Antiopa, L. Sandy Point, George's Harbour, 1st October. Dark and n?uch irrorated wing-borders.
Vanessa Milbe?'ti, Godt. Apparently a common insect.
Pyrameis cardui, L. Many examples.
Chionobas Taygete, Hiibn. "Kantem ; flying among long grass." Agrees pretty well with Lapland specimens.
Coenonytnpha inornata, "W. H. Edwards, Proc. Ac. Nat. Sci. Phil., 1861, p. 163. One example, ^ , agreeing well with the description above cited. Mr. Edwards' original specimens were from Lake Winnipeg.
Lyccena Scudderi, W. H. Edwards, Proc. Ac. Nat. Sci. Phil., 1861, p. 164. One ^, "Rantem." Mr. Edwards described the species from Lake Winnipeg.
Lyccena Couperi, Grote, Bull. Buffalo Soc. Nat. Sci., i, p. 185 (1873) ; Glaucopsychc Couperi, Scudder, ibid., JJeccm. 26, 1873. Described from specimens taken at Anticoati by Mr. Couper. Mr. Milne's collection
246 f^^P"'-
contains numerous examples captured among bushes on tto north-west arm of Bouavista Bay. They agree very well with Mr. Scudder's description.
L}/c(jBna Aquilo, Boisd., Icones, pi. 12, figs. 7 and 8. One specimen only, taken at Rantem.
Lycodna Lucia, Kirby, Fauna Bor.-Amer., iv, p. 299, pi. 3, figs. 8 and 9. Numerous examples of this widely distributed boreal Amerit-an species, taken near Spruce Trees, at Eautem.
Bartholomew Eoad, Kentisli Town, N.W. : March 1875.
DESCRIPTION OF A NEW PULICIDEOUS INSECT FROM CEYLON.
BY PROF. J. O. WESTWOOD, M.A., F.L.S., ic.
I hare lately reccired from H. N Moseley, Esq., one of the naturalists of the exploring ship " Challenger," and also from my correspondent, Mr. Green of Colombo, Ceylon, numerous specimens of a minute species of flea, which attacks the domestic fowl in Ceylon, attaching itself firmly by its rostrum, in considerable numbers, around the eyes and neck of the birds, thiis differing from the ordinary flea, which never fixes itself in such a manner as not to be able to disengage itself instantaneously ; and also from the Chigoe, which burrows into the flesh of its victim, hiiman or quadruped.
This new species is about two-thirds of the size of the common human flea, and is of a more rounded form, the back being much more arched ; its body is much less strongly spiued ; the head is slightly an- gulated in front of the antennal cavities. The proboscis is ordinarily porrected, that is to say, the delicate lancet (which seems to me to represent the labrum, and which has six or seven minute serratures on its upper edge, but which was considered by Mr. Haliday to represent the lingua) and the two elongated mandibles forming the sheath of the former piece (and each of which has four rows, each with fifty-four minute denticulations) are generally stretched out in the same lino as the body ; the triangular maxilla; and the four-jointed maxillary palpi are deflexed, and the lower lip consists of an oblong and very delicate membrane with two flat equally delicate inarticulated plates at its extremity. This latter character separates the species from all the genuine fleas of the genus Pulex, and agrees with that of the Chigoe, forming the genus Sareoj)si/JJi(.9, established by myself many years ago in the Transactions of the Entomological Society of London, but for which Herr Karsten has improperly taken up the old and most in- appropriate generic name of Bliynchoprion. Hence I propose for this new Ceyloncso flea the name Sarcopsyllus galUnaceus. Oxford : March, 1875. •
is:5.! 2-i7
ON THREE NEW SPECIES OF EYDROPRILID^.
BT D. SUAEP, M.B.
Dr. Leconte, in the Trans. Am. Ent. Soc, 1874, p. 47, has published the characters o£ an aberrant new genus and species of SydrophiUdce, found in Texas by Belfrage, and has named the insect Sepidalum costatum. "When I was Last in London, Mr. E. W. Janson presented me, in the presence of Dr. Horn, with a peculiar small coleopterous insect he had destined for me, and on looking at the specimen I re- cognized it as allied to a remarkable species in my collection from South America, resembling, at first sight, a small Trox, or a Hete- romerous Coleoptei'on, but which, after examination, I had referred to the Sydrophilidce ; and, on its being handed to Dr. Horn for in- spection, he declared it to be allied to a remarkable insect that had much interested Dr. Leconte and himself, and which the latter was just describing under the name of Sepidulum costatum. Dr. Leconte, knowing the interest I felt in his new genus, has been so kind as to send me a couple of individuals, and, on examining them, I find that both my species are really closely allied to the Texas species, so that I feel justified in describing them under the same generic name, although it must be admitted that some of the slighter characters given by Dr. Leconte as characterising the genus, must in such case be eliminated from the genei'ic formula, and considered as specially characteristic of the Texas species. The genus Sepiduhim appears to me to possess a greater affinity with Spercheus than with any other described genus ; the most important points in which it differs therefrom appearing to be : Ist, the structure of the antennae ; 2nd, the structure of the abdomen ; and 3rd, the fact that Sepidulum is characterized by Leconte as possessing but four joints to the tarsi, while Spercheus has five. The basal joint of the tarsi in Spercheus is, however, very short, and, on making a careful examination, even without dissection, of Sepidulum tror/oides and S. hullatum, I am able to perceive that there is a fifth joint present in the shape of a minute basal joint concealed by the extremity of the tibia. As regards the structure of the abdomen, I may also state that I have no doubt this will prove also not be im- portant ; Spercheus emarginatus has the abdomen formed of five well dcveU)ped, finely pubescent, ventral segments ; while of Sepidulum Leconte says, " the abdomen is deeply witlidrawn in the cavity of the " elytra ; it is flat, and I can see but four ventral segments, the last is " rounded at tip and vaguely impressed each side ; there may however "be five segments, the first being invisible on account of the promi- " nence of the mctasternum and the contraction of the abdomen."
248 t^P"''
After examining, as well as I can without the aid of dissection, the larger species of SqnduJum here described, I feel little hesitation in stating my opinion that the abdomen in Sepidulum will be found to be composed of six horny ventral plates, and similar in structure and functional value to the abdomen of Amphiops, viz., a basal segment placed in a vertical direction immediately behind the coxa?, so as to be quite invisible except on dissection, a second segment reduced in size to an extremely narrow band, which is placed at right angles to the basal segment, and four large apical glabrous segments ; whereas in Sperchens emarginatus the live apical segments are each about equally developed and are pubescent, the basal segment being glabrous and similar in form and position to that of Sepidulum. The difference then in structure of the abdomen in SpercJieus emarginatus and Sepkluhim will, I believe, be found to consist in the great reduction in size of the 2nd horny segment in Sepidulum, and in the apical segments being glabrous and therefore unfitted for detaining air for respiratory purposes. Precisely in these points the Spercheus from Australia here described stands intermediate ; in it the four apical segments are large and glabrous, while the segment immediately behind the coxa? is pu- bescent, but its surface is about half cut away on each side in adaptation to the coxjB.
The characters furnished by the legs and abdomen seem to me therefore to indicate rather the affinity of Sepidulum with Spej^cJieus than the contrary. On the other hand, the antennae remain very different in the two genera, the structure in Sepidulum shewing no approach to the peculiar structure of these organs in Spercheus.
It is important to recall that Spercheus carries its eggs in a sac about with it, the sac being placed on the under surface of the hind-body ; the structure of the abdomen, and the ample elytra (when the sac is attached and retained in position by the coxae and femora), allowing it to find complete protection. Sepidulum costatum also carries and protects its eggs in a similar manner : not only does the structure of the abdomen indicate this, but I have direct evidence of the fact, inasmuch as one of the two specimens sent me by Dr. Leconte had, when it reached me, its egg sac still attached and containing a few ova.
The modifications of structure of the ventral segments in the group SijdropliilidcB are of singular interest to the student, being controlled as they are by three, if not more, important functional relations ; viz. : relations to respiratory needs of aquatic life ; 2nd, protection of eggs by their being carried about by the female ; and
18-- 249
3rd, adaptations to modifications of hind coxa) for aquatic locomotion : the comprehension of these modifications and their functional values will facilitate the classification of the members of the group.
Sepidulum teoooides, n. sp.
Ashy-red, antonnte and palpi yellow, thoi*ax jDroduccd in the middle over the head, the sides indentate in an irregular manner so as to be ragged ; elytra with suture and margin elevated, and each also with three costse, the middle one interrupted near the base.
Length, 3 mm.
Head granulate above, the eyes completely divided by the caiithus. Thorax forming a broad lobe in the middle over the head ; on this lobe are two elevated lines, contiguous near the front, then diverging till behind the middle, when they become abruptly approximate, outside these lines is another irregular elevated one on each Bide ; its upper surface is made rough by elevated granules ; the sides are ragged and indented, but narrowed behind, so that the base is much narrower than the front. The elytra have, between the raised lines, coarse punctures, arranged in rather irregular rows, two rows between each of the middle costse, and four between the outer one and the external margin. Metastcrnum granulated, with a slight depression in the middle at the extremity. Legs rather stout, rough ; tarsi and claws moderately large.
South America, or possibly Mexico.
Tliis insect is rather closely allied to >S'. costatum, Lee, from Texas ; besides the differences in the sides of the thorax and the sculpture of the elytra, the only important structural characters I notice to dis- tinguish it therefrom are the completely divided eyes, and the con- siderably larger tarsi and claws.
SEPinrLUM BTJLLATUM, W. Sp.
Blackish, posteriorly reddish, on the upper surface with elevated metallic tubercles ; legs stout, reddish, antenna) and palpi yellow.
Length, 3| mm.
ITcad with raised granules, the clypeus in front metallic ; eyes large, incom- pletely divided by the canthus. Thorax much narrower than the elytra, a good deal narrowed towards tlie base, the front produced in the middle over the head as a broad lobe, in the middle of this near the front is a small elevated space, giving the appearance of another lobe ; the sides are finely serrate, the surface is covered with granules, and has besides some large elevated pustules, some of whicli are metallic at their summit. Elytra roughened with sharj) well-defined granules, and furnished with four rows of larger bullae or tubercles, which are metallic at their summit, the outer row sub-obsolete. Metastcrnum very short, with a raised, transverse, polished space, occupying its middle. Legs reddish, stout; the tibiae rough, with longitudinal lines ; the hind femora angulate beneath in the middle.
250 I April,
India. A single specimon, for which I am indebted to Mr. E. W. Janson.
Besides the distinctions in sculpture, this species differs from S. costatum, Lee, by the much stouter legs.
SpEEcnEus PEiscus, n. sj).
Brownish-yellow, with the margins of the upper surface paler ; thorax very short and transverse, with the sides serrate ; elytra coarsely punctured, and with some not very distinct elevated costse, the Butural costa short, and strongly elevated ; the margins explanate.
Length, 4 mm. Breadth, 2^ mm.
Much narrower than the European S. emarginatus ; like it, covered with a crust concoaUng its sculptui'e. Head with the sides of the clypcus much raised, depressed and emarginato in front, its surface uneven, the front part but little punctured, the hinder roughly but indistinctly punctured. Thorax narrower than the elytra, very short, the front angles prominent, the sides serrate, the middle part like the head brown in colour, the sides yellowish, the sculpture of the centre rough but indistinct, the sides nearly smooth. Scutellum elongate, smooth, and shining. Elytra very convex, yellowish, irregularly maculated with brown, with four costse ; the internal one strongly elevated at the base, in the middle almost absent, then again a good deal elevated at the extremity ; the 2nd and 4th costa) reach quite to the extremity, the Ist and 3rd do not j the interstices are very coarsely punctured. The four apical segments of the abdomen are glabrous and shining, the basal one, as well as the sternum, dull and pubescent. Tibiae rather strongly serrate externally ; basal joint of tarsi very indistinct.
Rockhampton, Queensland.
Thornhill, Dumfries :
February 2^rd, 1875.
NOTES ON BEITISn TENTHREDINID^, WITH DESCEIPTIONS OP TWO NEW SPECIES.
BY P. CAMEEO>'^, JUN.
Strongtlogastee femobalis, sp. n.
S. niger, nitidus, pronofi Umbo, feguJisqtie alhidis, abdomine cingulo lato rufo ; pedibus testaceis,fcmorlbus fere toils nigris ; alis J/i/alitiis, stigmate nigricante. ^ $ . Long. 3 J Un.
$ . Antenna) filiform, black, shorter than the thorax and abdomen. Head shining, totally black. Thorax black, shining, glabrous ; pronotum broadly edged with sordid white ; tegulso white ; cenchri small, obscure white. Abdomen black, less shining than the thorax ; the segments not smooth as in S. mixtus, but in fur- rows ; the four middle segments red, beneath tjicy are also red, but the sides are
19T5.] 251
edged with black ; tho apex is acuminate, the cerci moderately long. Wings hyaline, the nerviives, eosta and stigma black. The marginal ncrvurc is placed at some dis- tance in front of the 3rd sub-marginal one. The feet are sordid testaceous ; the femora black, except at the apices and at the bases of the posterior pair ; the knees have a yellowish hue ; tho posterior tibia) arc darker than the four anterior ; the posterior tarsi fuscous.
The above description serves equally well for the (J, mutatis mu- tandis. The anteunaj are not longer than the body.
S.femoraJis comes nearest to S. mixfus, KL, from which it is easily recognized by the marginal nervure (in the ^ ) not being joined to the 3rd sub-marginal one ; the black colour of the femora and mouth, and the broader red band of the abdomen, which has also its apex much more acute.
Both sexes were taken on the Q-leniffer Braes, near Paisley, three years ago in June.
The British Species of Dineuea. So far as I can make out, Stephens describes only four species of Dineura (exclusive of hemichroa) in his " Illustrations," namely : De- geeri, verna, parvula, Sindfuscula ; but evidently he had not the true exponent of the last species, as will appear fx'om the reasons given below. The following are the species known to me as natives of Britain ; and probably, in course of time, others will be added when the country has been better explored.
Dineura Degeeri, Kl., = Nematus varius, Lep. — This is the com- monest species, and is found in most places in early summer among birch ; the larva is got on the same plant in the autumn. Thomson places this and the next three species in the genus Nematus. All the species are subject to great variation in the neuration of the wings.
D. stilata, Kl. — Apparently a not uncommon species. Here the larva feeds on Pgrus aucuparia ; and at Worcester Mr. J. E. Fletcher finds it on P. torminalis. A common variety occurs with only one marginal cell in the anterior wings.
D. testaceipes, Kl. — This species has been taken by Mr. James Hardy in Berwickshire, Dr. Sharp at Dairy, ami myself in Inverness-shire. The commonest form met with in this country (and it is also that which Thomson describes) has the abdomen nearly all testaceous beneath. It is, I am almost certain, identical with D. ventral is, Zaddach (Bes- chreibung neuer oder wcuig bekannter Blattwespeu, p. 10, fig. 3). The alar neuration in most of my specimens does not quite agree with Zaddach's figure, but in one example it does ; and at tho best very
252 fAprll
little reliance can be placed in the neuration, so variable is it. But it may be after all a distinct species, for it is stated by Zaddach (I. c.) that Herr Brischke bad bred testaceipes as well as ventralis, a state- ment that would lead one to conclude that the larvae of the two differed. The larva of ventralis only is, however, described, and it feeds, like stilata, on Pyrus aucuparia. The other variety of testaceipes is a little larger ; it has the abdomen quite black, or with only a portion of the anal segment testaceous ; and the antennae have the under- surface only very faintly testaceous. This is, I presume, the true testaceipes of Klug and Ilartig.
D. verna, KL, = Tenthredo punctigera, Lep., = Selandria hiJoha, Ste. (var.), 111. vii, 54, 39, = Dineura opaca, Htg. (jiec Tenthredo opaca, Fab.), = D. pallipes, Htg. (var.), = D. dorsalis, Foerster (var.), =
Nematus opxicus, Thorns.
DiXEUEA SELANT)EIirOEMIS, Sp. 11.
D. nigra, suh-nitida, ore, terjulis, pedibusq^ue alhidis ; pronoto fere toto, ventre suhtus, anoque pallide rufescentihus ; femorihus anticis basi, posticis fere totis, posticis tarsis et tibiarum dimidio apicali, nigris ; alls hyalinis, stigmate fusco. Long, fere 1\ lin.
$ . Autennse about the length of the head and thorax, black, modei-atelj thick, the 3rd and 4th joints nearly equal. Head black, very slightly downy ; the clypeus and labrum white. Thorax black, shining, slightly downy ; the pronotum almost entirely reddish ; the tegulae white. The cenchri are scarcely distinguishable. Ab- domen of the length of the head and thorax, black above, the sides, extreme apex above, and ventral surface, dull reddish. Wings hyaline, costa and stigma fuscous, the costa a little paler than the stigma ; the 1st sub-marginal nervure is very faint, the 3rd sub-marginal cell is longer than broad, widest at the apex. The marginal nervure is received a little in front of the middle of the 3rd sub-marginal ceU ; the 2nd recurrent a little in front of the 2nd sub-marginal. Legs testaceous ; anterior femora at the base slightly, posterior entirely (except the knees), the apical half of the posterior tibia;, and the posterior tarsi, black, the four anterior tarsi faintly fuscous.
There is a variety of verna, having some resemblance to this insect, but differing from it in the following points : the mar- ginal, 2nd sub-marginal, and 2nd recurrent nervures are all joined together ; it has the body much more downy, larger and stouter ; the antennae are thicker, and apparently shorter in proportion ; and, finally, the posterior tibiae and tarsi are white.
One example has been taken at St. Albans by the Eev. T. A. Marshall.
D. parvula, Kl. — This is described by Stephens (111., vii, 52, 31), but I have never seen a British specimen. It is placed by Thomson in JSlennocampa, next to £. pusilla.
18". 253
D.fuscida, Kl. — This is also described by Stephens (111., vii, 50, 2-4) ; but as Mr. F. Smith could not fiud the true fuscula (which I sent to him to be compared) amoug his specimens, I suppose that Stephens had quite another insect, perhaps Blennocampa pusitla, which Hartig states is the $ oi fuscula ; but Zaddach has corrected this error. The only example that I have seen (which was taken in iu Cadder Wilderness in May) has only three sub-marginal cells as in Dolerus ; and this fact makes me think that Dolerus (JPelmatopus) minutus, Htg., is the same species, for it agrees very closely as regards size and coloration \;\i\i fuscula, or if not, I am certain that it should be placed in the same genus. If Thomson's views are to be followed, D. fuscula will require to be transferred to Blennocampa.
The Beitish Species oe Claditjs.
Without an examination of his types, it seems almost impossible to identify some of the species of Cladius described by Stephens, on account of the unsatisfactory nature of the descriptions. Mr. Smith, in his " Nomenclature of HjTnenoptera," gives one species of Cladius, seven of Trichiocampus, and four of Priopliorus ; but, after an exami- nation of a large number of specimens from England and Scotland, I have not been able to identify more than five species, as noted below, a number that is certainly more in harmony with the views of recent authors. I have also females of what are probably G. Brullwi, Dbm., and C. Drewseni, Thorns. ; but I cannot be quite sure that they are correctly named until I get males.
Cladius dijfonnis, Pz.
C. rvfpes, Lep., = uncinatus, Htg.
C. eradiatus, Htg., = ? morio, Lep.
G. viminalis, Fall.,^ grandis, Lep., = luteicornis, Stc., = eucerus, Htg.
C. padi, Linn., = alhipes, Fall., Ittg., = pallipes, Lep., = ^JiVi- cornis, Curt., = immunis, Ste. — This is the commonest species of the genus, and it is subject to considerable variation in the coloration of the legs. At the end of last October, I found a batch of the larvae still feeding on the wild rose. I often get larva) without tho usual black lUArk on the head.
The Bbitisii Species of Teichiosoma.
Our TrichiosomcB are involved in considerable confusion ; and iu ordei', as far as possible, to rectify this, I give here a synonymic
254 t^P"'-
revision of the species. The references to the Stephensian species are worked out from the descriptions, and they will, I think, be found correct, although of course an examination of the types would have been far more satisfactory ; but this I have not been able to do. I have fortunately succeeded in rearing all the species, and this has greatly simplified their identification, besides making it more sure. On the other hand, I have not been at all successful in breeding the Civi- hices, so that a revision of these must stand over until I have collected more material.
Trichiosoma lucorum, Linn., = Latreillii, Scalesi, and unidentatum, Leach, pusillum and hiverrucatum, Ste.
T. ietuleti, Kl., = tihiale, Ste. ; cratesgi, Zaddach. — Thomson con- siders hetuleti to be a variety of lucoruvi ; but in this oj)iuion I do not agree with him at present, because the earlier stages of the two are not quite identical. At the same time I am open to be convinced that the differences between them are not sufficiently great to warrant their separation. Prof. Zaddach has renamed the species crataegi, as that is a more appropriate name ; but as King's description is quite recog- nizable, I do not think that his name (having the priority) should be set aside, merely because the insect does not feed on birch, if that is even always the case.
T. sorli, Htg., Stett. Zeits., 1840, p. 20 ; Eatzeburg, Die Forstin- secten, 136 ; Zaddach, Schrift. d. konig. physik.-okonom. Gesell. zu Konisberg, 1862, 261, pi. ii, figs. 8 — 10 ; Thoms., Hymen. Scand., i, 23, 1.
T. vitellines, Linn., = sylvaticum and laferale, Leach,
JPcecilosotna puttatum, Fall. — Thomson (Hymen. Scand., i, pp, 231 — 233) has split up the Tenthredo guttata of Fallen (impressa, Kl.) into four species, which he names guttata, longicornis, siibmutica, and excisa. Of these, I have been able to identify as British, giittatum, stibmuticum, and excisum ; but I am not at all sure if the two last mentioned and longicorne are really good species ; they seem to differ but little from each other ; and it is very desirable that some infor- mation should be obtained regarding their earlier stages, so as to settle the question whether they are distinct species or not. P. guttatum is quite different from the other forms, and may be known from them by its half-smoky wings. The only specimen that I have seen of it was taken by Mr. J. E. Fletcher at Worcester. Selandria Klugi, Ste., is clearly a Poecilosoma ; it perhaps = submuticum, Thoms.
1875.] 255
Eniscia, Thomson, Opusc. Ent., p. 299 (1870), Hymen. Scand., i, 261, = Sciapteryx, Stephens, III, vii, 5G (1835).
PJii/lIofoma fetiella, Zaddach, = Druida parviceps, Newman (1837), = Tenth-edo nemorata, Fallen (1808).
Mmphytus lepidus, Klug, = Sarpiphorus lepidus, Hartig (1837), = Asticta lantlie, Newman (1838).
Perineura viridis (Linn.), Thomson, = TentJiredo picta, Klug. According to Thomson, T. viridis, Klug {nee Linn.),= T. viesomela, Jj.
136, West G^raham Street, Glasgow : February, 1875.
Kofes on British JTemiptera. — I cannot let Messrs. Douglas and Scott's remarks on my last month's paper pass unnoticed. I see that in four cases they give their decision against mine; because Dr. Fieber has seen and named the specimens from which they have described. Now, although I most fully acknowledge the value of Dr. Fieber's most excellent works, yet there is no reason why he should not at times have made mistakes, and the fact is that he has made many mistakes in the naming of our British Hemiptera. Berytus commutalus, Stethotropis incana, and Litosoma bicolor are three owned to by Messrs. Douglas and Scott in your January number, the two latter of which I suggested to them myself, and they have previously cor- rected several others. I do not put these forward for the sake of showing the imper- fections of Dr. Fieber's work, but to prove that it is unreasonable to hold up Ills opinion as decisive, as though he could not err. Of course I may bo wrong in my views, but if so, I think that Messrs. Douglas and Scott should show me how I am wrong, and therefore I cannot allow myself to bo silenced by a simple appeal to Dr. Fieber's authority. I append a few notes to some of the species.
Berytus Signoreti. — I have looked at Lethierry's description of pygmcexis, and think mine may not impossibly be the same. I hope Messrs. Douglas and Scott's will prove to be the true Signoreti, Fieb.
Campglosteira verna, Fall. — I cannot see in either Hcrrich-SchalTer's or Fieber's descriptions or figures any mention of a second row of meshes either on the prono- tum or on tho margin. I suppose, as Mr. Douglas says " ours is the true verna, Fall.," that he has seen the original type, and if so, I have no more to say.
Phytocoris marmoratus, D. & S. — Will Mr. Scott say how this species difEers from tilice 1 At tho end of his description (Ent. Mo. Mag., v, p. 263) he only says that " its general darker appearance may serve to distinguish it from that insect." If there arc any better characters than this, I hope he will point them out.
(TinicephalusJ obsoletus, D. & S. — Wlien an author makes and characterizes a division, and puts an insect into it which does not agree with tho characters of such division, I do not think it is going too far to say that ho lias made a mistake, and I am only sorry that Mr. Scott sliould wisli to abide by such an error.
Psallus dilutus, D. & S., nee Fieb. — The printer may have erred in changing tho one into two and the half into one-third, but if so, and Messrs. Douglas and Scott's
25G
[April,
insects arc the true diluttis, Fieb., then I consider dilutus and alni as identical, and if they are not, I should much like to hear from Mr. Scott how they differ. — Edwaed Saundees, 2, Spencer Park, Wandsworth : 10th March, 1875.
Occurrence of Botys nuhilalis (lupulinalis) in London. — Going home late one night last July, down one of the broad thoroughfares south of London Bridge, I caught sight of a moth — evidently a Pyralis — sitting on a window, attracted by a brilliant gas-jet inside. Of course my instant thought was '^forjicalis" but it did not look like that species, so was quickly consigned to a piU box. At home, what was my surprise to find that my capture was a total stranger, altogether unlike any species previously known to me ; and it turned out equally puzzling to the best authorities. So I sent it to Professor Zeller, who pronounced it to be Botys mtbilalis, Hiibner, S 5 but also B. lupulinalis, Q-n., D. L. The usual form of B. lupulinalis, however, as described by Mr. Stainton in the Manual, and exhibited in a ? specimen from Germany, and two males from the Isle of Wight, in Mr. Doubleday's collection, is very different from my specimen, which is of a -paXo fuscous (the colour of Botys fuscalis in fact), with a yellow spot between the stigmata ; and also the first and second transverse lines, and a conspicuous streak along the fold, uniting them, pale yellow. It appears tliat this form of the S is "ot unusual on the Continent, and, indeed, Hiibncr's figure is much darker than my specimen. The ordinary form (not ordinary perhaps in this country, as it is excessively rare) is pale straw-coloured, with fuscous lines and stigmata.
The larva of this species is said, by Treitschke, to feed within the stems of hop, and Prof. Zeller tells me that he has taken it among that plant, while Guende's name has obviously the same derivation ; but Freyer gives an extract of a paper by Herr Schmidt, of Laibach, stating that the larva feeds within the stems of a grass (Fanicum miliaceumj, destroying the plants so that they break off, and wintering in the stems (stubbles) . Zeller adds that he has found the larva in this plant in millet fields, and that it is easily discovered by the withered appearance of the panicle, and a blackened hole in the stem. It has also been said to feed in the stems of Marruhium vulgare, and appears, therefore, to have a wide range of food-plants, but which of them is accountable for the appearance of this specimen in the heart of South London it is difiicult to conjecture. Hop warehouses are not scarce in the neighbourhood, but to any one wlio knows how tightly hops are packed, it woidd seem very im- probable that they shovdd be made the means of conveying an insect which feeds in the stems of the plant. — CuAS. G. Baeeett, Pembroke : March, 1875.
Description of the larva, S,c., of HeUotliis dipsacea. — Greatly indebted for tho help received from several good Entomologists, I here return my thanks to them for all the opportunities they have so kindly afforded me for studying the larvae of this species, and, indeed, without repeated help, I should have chronicled nothing but failure ; what with cannibalism amongst tho larva) themselves, ichneumons, and drying up of pupa;, out of eleven examples received at various times, I have reared but one moth, although I believe I have still some pupaj of 1873 alive.
My first acquaintance with the larv8B was in August, 1867, when one was found in Gloucestcrshii-e, feeding on a blossom of purple clover, and sent me by the Kev.
1875.] 2.37
E. Hallctt Todd ; I thou guessed it to be a HcUothis bj its spiracles and texture of skin, but, as it eventually died, its portrait remained among the unknowns, for future ideutilicatiou.
On 25th of August, 1870, Mi-. ITarwood sent me a similar larva, foimd in Norfolk, eating the seed capsules of Silene otites ; and on September 14th, another arrived from Lord Walsingham, with a notification from him that he believed it to be dipsacea ; this last was fed on sorrel for a few dajs, but did not thrive, until some gi'een seed-pods of toad-flax were substituted, when a surprising improvement appeared in its condition, and it soon grew to maturity ; — but both this and the other example died after spinning up for pupation.
In August, 1873, my hopes were raised high by the acquisition of several lai'vse, foimd; and sent me from Essex, by lilr. Harwood ; most of them he had taken on Ononis arrensis, and they were nearly full-fed, and soon retired into the sandy soil provided for them ; and there some of them still remain. The last example I received, the one wliich has — by appearing in the perfect state — enabled me to identify all my previous figures, was foxind on Crepis virens in Norfolk, and forwarded to me September 10th, 1873, by Mr. W. H. Cole ; from this the moth appeared on the 10th of July, 1874.
From observing the habits of all these examples, I conclude that the natural food of the larva, from near half-growth onwards to maturity, is confined chiefly to flowers and unripe seeds of various species of Silene, Ononis, Trifolium, Crepis, Hieracium, Linaria, &c.
The full-grown larva when at rest is about \^ inch in length, and li when stretched out, of moderate stoutness, the body, thickest at the middle segments, tapers very little towards the head, and rather more towards the anal extremity, with a sudden slope down on the back from the midtUe of the twelfth segment, the thirteenth being rather elongated, and the anal legs extended behind it, the other segments plump and well defined ; the head, which has rounded lobes, can be partly withdrawn into the second segment ; the tubercular dots small, each bearing a fine hair, and the skin is partially roughened, as hereafter described.
The ground colour is varied, straw colour, light drab, greenish-ochreous, full green, brilliant yellowish-green, rather glaucous-green, olive-green, rose-pink, and deep purplish-brown have all occurred ; but in each individual the design has been the same in details as follows : — The head often green, but sometimes pinkish, is freckled with black or brown on the crown of each lobe ; the dorsal line is the finest thread of ground colour, enclosed by a pair of much darker lines, which commence on the third segment, and thicken gradually as they approach the middle of tho body, from whence they by degrees naiTOW again towards tho end of it ; on either nide of the back run two pairs of longitudinal, rather meandering, lines, a little darker than the ground colour ; the subdorsal stripe of uniform width is cither wliito throughout, or white on the second segment and afterwards pale yellow, or becoming faintly tinged with ground colour, or else greenifih thruugliout; when viewed side- ways, it is seen to rise upwards a little in its course along the twelfth segment, and to form an angle by its sudden return to its former direction on the side of tho anal flap, where it ends in a point ; immediately beneath this conspicuous stripe is a broad longitudinal band of ground colour greatly filled u]i willi darker colour than
258 tAprii,
tliat of the back, its upper edge tlie darlost ; next below comes the spiracular lino either ■whitish, greenish, or pale yellow, and on it the circular white or pale ground- coloured spiracles, outlined with black, are placed ; then conies a stripe of ground colour, or else ochreous or green, followed by a line of white, which runs down the front of the anal leg ; the belly is of the ground colour, with a darker rather inter- rupted band above the legs, which are of the ground colour, or else greenish. The texture of the skin in the darker lines and parts is rough, being composed of ex- tremely short and minute bristly blackish points ; while in the intervals, and on all the pale stripes, it is smooth.
The pupa is five-eighths of an inch in length, of moderate bulk, the head and palpi rather sharply produced, back of thorax swollen, wing-covers broad at the ends ; abdomen tapering, and ending in two longish anal points, the abdominal rings roughened on the middle : the colour a pinkish red-brown ; but I see the pupae that are standing over to the second year have become dark brown. The cocoon, com- posed of silk of the weakest texture, is very flaccid, but no doubt protects the pupa in the sandy soil. — William Bucklee, Emsworth : March 12th, 1875.
Captures of NoctuidcB at St. Catharines in the Province of Ontario, Canada West. — In the spring of this year I commenced collecting the NoctucB of this part of Canada, and in the hope that a list of my captures, and the dates of appearance, may be of interest to English Entomologists, I ventvire to send the same for publication.
Being a stranger to the insect fauna of North America, and in the absence of anything like a Manual of this Heterocera, I should, even with the assistance of the British Museum Catalogues and Guenee's work, have had great difficulty in identi- fying my specimens. Fortunately for me, this difficulty was removed by Mr. Grote of Buffalo, who in the kindest manner has, from time to time, named my material^ For this courteous assistance I am under lasting obligations. I have thought it advisable not in all cases to adopt the genera of Mr. Grote's " List of North American Noctuidse," for in the unsettled state of nomenclature at present existing, I prefer the arrangement of M. Guenee.
This I moreover do for reasons not necessary here to mention. It will be observed that there are in my list several species, and even some genera, hitherto new to science. These have been pubhshed by Mr. Grote in various journals.
Many of the Homopteridce I have omitted altogether, as it seems hopeless to indentify them by the meagre descriptions existing. Finally, Mr. Grote has still several specimens yet undetermined ; these will have to be added to the list. The country in this immediate neighbourhood is not favourable for collecting, being so sparsely wooded. In the Rhopalocera it seems to me to be very poor in species JPajjilio Turnits is i-arc, the larvce I found on Laurus sassafras. P. Asterias very common, the larvae on carrots, parsnips, and other umbcUiferse. Danais Archipjms very common, the larvae on milk-weed (AsclepiasJ by the way, one of the best plants I know of as an attraction for Noctua. Vanessa Antiopa very common, and I think larger than in Europe. Colias Philodice very abundant all the season, while our advent iiro'is Britisher, Pieris rapa, is now by far the commonest butterfly here, the larvae making a clean sweep of everything eatable in the way of coleworts. The large
1875.] 2')})
SatttrnidcE are not uncommon. The cocoons of P. Cecropia and Poli/phemus common on the twigs of Acer dasycarpum and other shade trees, while Promethea and Attacus Luna arc not uncommon.
Many hawk moths abound ; for instance, SpJiinx quinquemaculata is very common, the larvae eating the tomato, and hence called " tomato bugs," for everything aUve in this country is called a bug. Deilephila Chamceneril and lineata are very common over flowers.
Thyatira cymatophor aides, 14th July, sugar, not common ; expultrix, 23rd Juno to July, not common at sugar.
Raphiaf rater, 25th Jmie, rare at sugar.
Acronycta occidentalis, 2nd June, common at sugar and rest until August ; morula, 10th July, i-are at rest ; connecta, 12th August, rare at sugar ; Jiastulifera, 26th June, not common at rest ; dactyllna, 2 itli July, rare at sugar ; Irumosa, 17th May, July, and August, not uncommon at rest and sugar ; Verrilli, 20th July, rare at sugar ; noctivaga, 6th June to August, rare at light and sugar ; superans, 25th June, July, not unfrequent at sugar ; ovata, 18th June, bred, rare at sugar ; sulochrea, n. 8., 2nd July, rare at sugar; dissecia, 17th June, two specimens at rest ; oblinita, 26th May, at rest, very frequent, a second brood in August, cocoons very common on palings.
Sryophila lepidula, 16th July, rare at sugar; 2'«^^i«^''Jcj«?a, 29th June, frequent at rest and sugar.
Noctua sigmoides, 29th June to August, not unfrequent at sugar ; augur, 3rd July, common at sugar ; haja, 3rd August to September, very common at sugar ; C-nigrum, 11th June to September, very common at sugar and light, specimens larger than in Europe ; bicarnea, 31st July to September, very frequent at sugar and at lune Vjlooms ; Normaniana, n. s., 31st July to September, frequent at sugar. This has hitherto, I believe, been considered the same as iV. triangulum : I am reminded much more of N. depuncta, which seems its nearest ally ; clandestina, 19th June to July, common at sugar and lime blooms ; Irunneicollis, 2nd July to September, rare at sugar ; alternata, 1st July to September, very common at sugar ; ctipida, 17th July, August, frequent at sugar ; rubi l 4th August, rare at sugar.
Agrotia herilis, Slst July to September, very common at rest, sugar, and light ; tricosa, 3rd August to September, very common at rest, light, and sugar ; subgothica, 9th August to September, not so frequent as the preceding two species at rest, sugar, and light. All three species very abundant on flowers of tliistle Cuicus arveiisis, and unopened flowers of Verbasctim thapsus ; Fennica, lOlh August, one specimen at rest. This seems to be quite as rare on this continent as in Europe, only two or three specimens, I believe, are known in the Cabinets liere, and these from Labrador and California ; lesselata, 29th June, bred from larva; found in abundance at roots of Malva rotundifolia, &c., in May, afterwards, to end of July, swarming at sugar, rest, and lime blooms. Many remarkable and beautiful varieties just as in our trilici ; Cochrani, 27th July, bred, afterwards, to September, common at sugar and rest ; saucia, 14th August, not uncommon at sugar ; miffuxa, 2nd June to October, swarming at sugar, flowers, and light. Larger and more strongly marked than in Europe ; venerabilis, 6th September, not unfrequent at light, sugar and in breeding case.
260 f''^"''
Aplecta pressa, n. s., 6th July, lime blooms and rest, several ; herbida, 27th June to September, common at rest, less frequent at sugar ; nimbosa, 6th August, rare at sugar ; latex, 30th May to June, not uncommon at rest.
Ammoconia hadicollis, 31st July, rare at sugar.
Hadena siibjuncta, 2nd July, rare at rest ; vicina, n. e., 4th June, rare at sugar ; confusa, 8th May, rare at palms ; albifusa, 5th June to August, common at rest, flowers, and sugar ; claviplena, 9th July, rare at sugar ; xylinoides, 23rd May to June, common at rest and sugar. A second brood in August smaller in size.
Bianthcucia meditata, 11th August, not rare at sugar and rest.
Mamestra arctica, 22nd June to August, swarming at sugar, rest, and lime blooms, also bred from warty and maggoty-looking larvee found under grass and logs in May ; devastator, 24th June to September, by far the most common moth here, a perfect nuisance at sugar.
Apamea Jaspis, 30th. M&j to July, common at rest and eng&v ; Jl nit im a, 10th June, common at rest, more rarely at sugar. This species, though near our 5a5t7j«ea, is a much more beautiful insect ; mactata, 31st August and September, common at rest and sugar ; inodica, Vtli July to September, very common at sugar and rest ; reniformis, 31st July to September, not uncommon at sugar. Eepresents, and is very near, A. fibrosa.
Celmna herhimacula, 23rd June to October, very common at sugar, light, and rest. Seemingly a succession of broods ; chalcedonia, 25th June, rare at sugar.
Bipterygia pinastri, 14th June, not uncommon at sugar and rest.
Xylophasia apameiformis, 16th June, frequent at sugar and rest ; spiitator, 4th July to September, common at sugar, also bred ; dubitans, 12th July, rare. One specimen in spider's web ; lignicolor, 27th June to August, common at sugar and lime blooms ; verbascoides, 9th July, rare, one specimen at sugar ; sectilis, loth June to August, not uncommon at sugar and rest ; cariosa, 6th July, rare, one specimen at rest.
Cloantha ramostila, 18th May, rest (liibernated). 1st September, fresh specimen at rest, rare ; vomerina, 8th May, rare at sallow palms, Salix caprea.
Phlogophora periculosa, 6th August, rare at sugar ; Iris, 9th June, rare at sugar.
Euplexia lueipara, 2nd June to August, not common at rest and sugar.
Nephelodes violans, Ist September, common at light and sugar, but always in bad condition.
Luceria loculata, 27th June, not uncommon at sugar.
Sydraecia lorea, 16th Juno to July, common at light flowers and sugar ; nictitans, 21st July to August, common at sugar. Not so variable nor so beautiful as in Scotland ; sera, 2nd July, very common at sugar and light.
Ooriyna cataphracta, 22ud September, rare, bred in quantities from larva; in the stems of Arctium lappa.
Scoleocampa ligni, Ist July, rare at light.
Leucania Henrici, 15th April, bred ; pallens, 3rd July, not common at lime blooms ; phragmitidicola, 7th Juno, not uncommon at light and sugar ; commoides, 3rd July to August, common at lime blooms, sugar, and light ; unipuncta, 3rd June to September, very common at sugar ; pseudargyria, 11th July, rare at sugar.
Ufeus salyricus, 20th July, rare at sugar.
75.] 261
Caradrina miranda, 2u(l Juue, not uncommon iit liglit.
Amphipyra pyramidoides, 24.tli July to August, common at sugar ; trar/upor/onis, 13th July, not uncommon at sugar.
Ceramica picta, 7tli June, bred, larvte afterwards on cabbage.
Matuta Catharina, n. g. et sp., 29th December, 1873, wings in spider's web ; 11th May, at sallow palms, rare.
Ferigrapha Normani, n. s., 11th May, rare at sallow palms, June, one at sxigar.
Toeniosea ffeiifilis, n. g. and sp., 30th June, very common at lime blooms, sugar, and at rest, until August ; perlellis, n. s., 2nd July, rare at rest.
TcBniocampa alia, 2nd May to June, very common at palms ; oviduca, 30th May, not unfrcquent at light.
Orthodes infinna, 29th June, not unfrcquent at sugar and light ; cynica, 8th June, rare at sugar.
Cirrhoedia pampina, September let, common at sugar all the month.
Cerasiis decUva, 21st September to October, common at sugar ; imdta, 18th September, rare at sugar.
Orthosia infumata, n. s., 18th August, not uncommon at rest and sugar.
Xanthia ferntgineoides, loth September to October, rery common at sugar and with net ; euroa, 9th September, not rare at rest.
Scopelosoma Morrisoni, 4tli May, not uncommon at palms (hibernated). Fresh specimen, 18th October, at rest under a board ; devia, n. s., 10th May, rare at palms.
Oonoptera libatrix, 4tb May (hibernated), at rest. Fresh brood June to October, not unfrcquent at sugar.
Xi/ZJHOj9e^MZca, 5th May (hibernated), at palms. Fresh specimens, 11th Sep- tember, common at rest and sugar ; ferrealis, 5th May (hibernated), at palms. Fresh specimens, 19th September, rare at rest ; Bethunei, 2nd May (hibernated) at palms. Fresh brood, 7th September to October, very common at rest and sugar ; disposita, 5th May (liibcrnated), at palms. Fresli brood, September to October, not un- common at sugar and rest ; cinerea, 16th September, not rare at rest and sugar ; laticinerea, 2nd May (hibernated), very common at palms and sugar. Fresh brood seems later than the last, viz. : 8th October, very frequent at sugar and rest. I never took cinerea in the spring ; tepida, 8th October, rare at rest ; pexata, 3rd May (liibernatcd), at palms. Fresh brood, 16th September to October, frequent at rest and sugar.
Calocampa nupera, 10th May (hibernated), single specimen at light.
Cucullia asterioides, 3rd Juno, common at flowers and rest.
Crambodes talidiformis, 13th June, rare with net at raspberry flowers.
Adisophanes miscellus, 2nd May, rare at rest.
Plusiodonta compressipalpis, 21th June, rare with net over Philadelphiis coronarius.
Placodes cinereola, 19th Juno.not iincommon at light.
Ahrostola ovalis, 16th August, rare at light. Many larva? of some Ahrostola afterwards at nettles.
Plusia area, 20th June, rare at light ; balluca, June, rare at light ; precationis, 3rd June to October, very common at flowers and rest ; simplex, Ist June, rare with net over thistles {Cnicus arvensis) ; morluorum, 2nd August, rather scarce at rest and over thistle flowers ; 8-«crtj:>^rt, Ist Soptomber, rare at rest; ampla, 2l9t July, rare witli net over thistles.
2G2 [April,
Heliothis exprimens, 5tli June, rather frequent over lilac and Weigelia rosea.
Acontia candefacta, 6tli September, rare at liglit.
Oligia versicolor, n. g. and sp., 23rd June, rare at rest.
Leptosia concinnlmacula, Ist June, common at rest and sugar.
Erastria carneola, 1st Juno to September, very common at rest and sugar; synochitis, 25tli June, rare at rest ; nigritida, ISth June, common at rest to July ; muscosida, 9tli June, vei-y common at rest and sugar.
Cha/inyris cerintha, 29th June, rare. One pair at rest.
Drasteria erichtea, 10th May to August, common at light and sugar ; erichto, June 12th, common at rest, sugar, and light.
Parallelia bistriaria, June 8th, common at rest and sugar.
Parthenos nubilis, 3rd June to September, very common at rest and sugar.
Catocala Epione, 27th July, rare at sugar ; insolahilis, 29th June, rare at rest ; residua, 1st August, not common at sugar ; relicta, 4th August to September, common at sugar and rest ; unijuga, 18th August, not rare at sugar ; Briseis, 5th August to September, not uncommon at sugar and rest ; parta, 20th Jvdy to September, common at rest and sugar; ultronia, 11th July to August, very common at rest and sugar ; concumbens, 4th August to September, very common at rest and sugar ; amatrix, 27th August to September, common at rest and sugar ; cara, 20th August to Sep- tember, less common than the last at rest and sugar ; innulens, 2nd August, very common at rest and sugar ; innubens, var. scinlillans, 8th September, rare at sugar ; cerogama, 31st July to September, very common at rest and sugar ; neogama, 24th July to August, common at sugar and rest ; piatrix, 17th August, not rare at sugar ; habilis, 20th August, not uncommon at sugar ; coelebs, n. s., 18th August, rare. One specimen at sugar, Strathsallow ; Clintoni, 11th July, rare. One specimen at sugar ; polygama, 8th July to August, very common at sugar and rest.
Honioptera lunata, 2nd Slay to June, common at rest and sugar ; Saundersii, 17th June, common at rest and sugar ; edusa, 11th August to September, not un- common at sugar and rest.
Ypsia undularis, 23rd May to June, common at sugar and rest. Apparently a second brood in August.
Pseudaglossa lubricalis, 10th July, common at sugar and lime blooms.
JEpizeitxis americalis, 9th July, common at sugar.
ChytoUta morbidalis, 23rd June, common at sugar.
Palthis atigulalis, 24th June, rare at sugar.
Bomolocha ballimoralis, 2l8t June, very common at rest and sugar ; abalienalis, 14th June, common at rest and sugar.
JJypena subrufalis, 29th June, not common at rest.
Platyhypena scahra, 23rd July to November, common at rest and sugar. — Geo. NoBMAW, St. Catharines, Ontario : 1*^ November, 1874.
6I)ituarn.
Dr. John Edward Gray, F.Ii.S., ^"c. Dr. Gray died at the British Museum on the 7th Mnrcli, at the age of 75, he having been bom at Walsall, in Staffordshire, in the year 1800. Although his entomological publications have been few, it would be scarcely right that we should content ourselves with a simple notice of his death. Uo was originally intended (we believe) for the tnedical profession, but, so far as we
i«75.] 263
are aware, never completed his medical studies, his taste taking a special turn towards the pursuit of Natural History ; and, as Prof. Westwood (five years his junior) re- marked at the last meeting of the Entomological Society, he was, when a very young man, a fellow pupil (if it may be so called) with Westwood, of llaworth, and helped him to arrange his collection of insects and entomological books. In 1821 he was appointed an assistant in the Zoological Department of the British Museum, of which, in 1840, he became Keeper, — a position which he resigned in December last, having completed fifty years of service. There are probably few men who possess BO varied a knowledge of Natural History as Dr. Q-ray did. It may safely bo asserted that he has published works and papers on every branch (including Botany), and there is no Society in London devoted to the Natural Sciences in which he has not, at some time or other, held a prominent position. It would be probably within the mark if we were to estimate the number of his pubUshed papers at 700 or 800 ; and, although during the past few years he was more or less crippled from recun-ent paralytic attacks, his intellect and love of controversy remained as kecu as ever. That he did much towards rendering our National Collection the richest in material iu the world is undoubted, not unfrequently disbursing from his own pocket, in the first instance, amounts necessary to secure particular specimens or collections desirable for the Museum, trusting to be re-imbursed when there should be sufEcient funds in hand from the annual grant to his department. Perhaps to his peculiar temperament it was due that even towards those who would be the first to acknowledge his great attainments and services to Natural Science, there was sometimes an appearance of a lack of courtesy, and of a desire to rush into violent controversy. To this also we, as entomologists, think is to be attributed the fact, that in spite of remon- strances of the strongest nature, both at home and abroad, he continued to allow (we might almost say command) the issue of such Catalogues as those refeiTcd to in a recent obituary notice in this Magazine. We gladly, however, remember that in addition to his numerous and versatile memoirs on Natui-al History, Dr. Gray has done good and lasting service in the department of periodical literature, more especially as one of the editors of the ' Annals and Magazine,' iu the affairs of which he for a long time took an active part, and in which ho published some of his most valuable papers. His position as Keeper of the Zoological Collection has been filled (as most of our readers probably already know and appreciate) by the elevation of Dr. Q-iinther, who in his turn is replaced as Assistant-Keeper by Mr. Frederick Smith.
BRITISH iZ-^ilf/Pr^iZ^.— ADDITIONS AND CORRECTIONS. BY J. W. DOUGLAS.
EHTPAEOCimOMID^.
Sc'OLOPOSTETIIUS AFFIXIS.
Puchymerus njltiis, ScliilL, Beitr., 80, 23 (1829).
deeoratus, a, llahn, Wanz., i, 139, t. 22, f. 71 (1831).
Scolopostcthns ajfinh, p. Fiol)., Eur. Ilom., 189, G (ISGl) ; p. D. and S., Brit. Hem., 185, 3 (1805) ; Lotli., Cat, 25 (18G9), id., 2 edit., 20 (1874) ; var. i, p. Stal, Oefv. Vet. Ak. Forh., 220, 1 (18G2).
Lygeem ojfinis, ThouiB., Opusc. Ent., ii, 201, 52 (1870).
2G1: (Ai)ril,1875.
AnteiincG thick : Ist joint pale orange, very rarely dusky on the upper surface ((^), or with a large black spot or wholly black, on the upper side ( ?); 2nd pale orange, distinctly black at the apex; 3rd and 4th joints black. Elytra : corium with sub-erect, pale golden hairs. Let/s — thighs: 1st pair black, yellow at base and apex; 2nd and 3rd pairs jjale orange, the 2nd sometimes with a blackish spot, and the 3rd with a large brown or black spot or ring, before the apex.
Usually brachypterous. Grenerally, but locally, distributed.
SCOLOPOSTETHUS ERICETOEUM.
Scolopostethus ericetormn, Leth., Cat., 25 (1869), id., 2 edit., 20 (1874). „ ajffinis, p. Fieb., I. c. ; D. and S., 1. c. ; var. a, Stal, Oefv.
Vet. Ak. Forh., 219, 1 (1862). Lygoeus melanocerus, Thorns., Opusc. Ent., ii, 202, 56 (1870).
Antennce not thick, black, except the basal third of the 2nd joint^ which is pale ferruginous. Elytra — coriiim smooth, without hairs- Legs — thighs : 1st pair browii or black, apex yellow ; 2ud and 3rd yel- low, with a black ante-apical ring, generally narrower on the 2nd pair.
Found only under heather.
The foregoing two species hare been usually mixed together, but I think M. Lethierry has shewn good cause for their separation, of which the chief distinguishing characters are given above.
Scolopostethus adjunctus. Scolopostethus adjiinctus, D. and S., Brit. Ilem., i, 183, 2 (1865). Pachymerus decoratus, Aband., h. and c, Hahn, Wanz.,i, 139 (1831).
„ podagricus, p. Flor, E-hyn. Liv., i, 279 (I860).
Scolopostethus offinis, var. h. p., Stal, Oefv. Vet. Ak. Forh., 220, 1 (1862). LygoBiis podagricus, Thoms., Opusc. Ent., ii, 201, 55 (1870). Scolopostethus podagricus, Leth., Cat., 2 edit., 20 (1871). Lygceus decoratus, Thoms., I. c. Scolopostethus decoratus, Leth., I. c.
LygcBus podagricus, Fab., according to the description, might pos- sibly be a Scolopostethus, but, if so understood, no mention whatever being made of the antenna^, which in this genus afford good differential characters, the description may apply to several of the species. In this sense Flor uses the name, for he avowedly associates under it, as one species, Vachymerus pictus and affinis, Schill., and P. decoratus, Hahn, with its so-called varieties. Fallen cites the Fabrician name doubtfully, and his description, on the whole, agrees best with P. pictus, Schill. Fieber does not advert i<^ podagricus. Fab., but quotci?
May, 1875 ] 2G5
the uaine as o£ Fulleu, aud puts it as a Bynoiiym of P. piclus, Scliill. Thomson also passes over the Fabriciaii dosci'iption altogether, and, citing Ealh'U as the author of tlie name podap-icus, applies it to the form of Scolopostcthiis which has the first two joints of the antennae entirely yellow, the mesosternum bi-tuberculated, and the membrane of the elytra wanting ; while he refers to decoratus, Hahn, the macrop- terous examples of the same form, having the same kind of antennge, but in which the tubercles of the mesosternum have disappeared by reason of the correlative development of the elytra. If these were really two species, the names would be untenable, but both forms were first (and rightly) comprehended as one species under the name S. ad- junctus, D. and S. Stal, in his " Hemiptera Fabriciana," ii, 122, 142 (1869), refers Lygceus fodagricus, Fab., to the genus Uremocoris, Fieb. Finally, to clear up this imhroglio, seeing that Fabricius wrote " Habitat in Auglia. Mus. Dom. Banks," I determined to refer to the Banksian collection still presei'ved in the British Museum, and the ex- amination of the unique typical example has proved not only that 8tal was correct in his reference to the genus Eremocoris, but that the long lost podagricus is identical with Lggceus erraticus, Fab. ! The former name is the older, and the description oi podagricus in some respects suits erraticus better (<?. g., " Femora antica crassissima, bidentata," for the description of erraiicus has " f emoribus anticis uuidentatis," which is incorrect) ; but the identity of Eremocoris erraticus with the Fabri- cian species not having been questioned, the synonymy, as far as Fabricius is concerned, will be as follows : —
Eeemocoris podagkicus. Cimex podagricus, Fab., Mantissa, ii, 302, 238 (1787); Lggcexis poda- gricus, Fab., E. S., iv, 1(J7, 111 (1791); S. 11., 232, ll"2 (1S03). Lygaus erraticus. Fab., E. S., iv, 1G7, 109 (1791); S. R., 232, 139 (1803).
NOTOCIIILUS, Fieb. Wieu. Ent. Monats., viii, G8 (180 1).
NOTOCIIILUS LIMBATUS.
Kolochihis liinbatus, Fieb., Vcrh. zool.-botaii. Gesells. AVien, xx, 257,
1 (1870). Scolupostcthus crassicornis, D. and S., E. M. M., viii, 21' (1871).
As indicated, I. c, the British example from Avliiih llie description was made, then and still unique, has some points of divergence from the genus Scolopostethus, although it was not then referred to Noto- chilus, Fieb., to which it really belongs ; but five species being now
described, tlie validity of tlie genus must be admitted. M. Lethiei'ry, of Lille, lias had tbe goodness to send me an example of iV. limhatus, Avliicli agrees exactly with. Pieber's description. Our insect is iden- tical, except tbat in it tbe second joint of the antennae is black, and rusty-yellow only at the extreme base ; whereas, in his, the lower half of the second joint is rusty -yellow ; but, although this coloration ap- pears to be a constant character in French examples, yet, as ours differs only in this respect, I am obliged to consider it as only a variety of N. litnhatus.
M. Lethierry says (Cat., p. 20) that he finds the species in April, sometimes rather commonly, but only in one locality in a wood, near a sand-pit, by sifting moss, under which are several nests of three species of ants, Ponera contracta, Myrmecina Latreillei, and Formica inifa ; he also once obtained several examples in the interior of the nests of the last.
EHYPAROCHEOMUS, Curt., D. and S. (Megalonotus, Fieb.)
ElIYPAEOCHEOMUS SABTJLICOLA.
Li/r/<sit,s sahulicola, Thoms., Opusc. Ent., ii, 190, 23 (1870). Megalonotus sahulicola, Leth., Cat., 2nd edit., 15 (1874). Black, clothed with golden pubescence.
Head in front and before the eyes with long projecting hairs. ^«^e««<E short, black, 1st joint at tlie apex, 2nd and 3rd except the apex, rnfous. Pronotum slightly, but posteriorly coarsely, punctured, the sides with long projecting hairs. Ulylra — corium light brown, posteriorly with a black blotch, in wliich arc two pale spots, the disc clothed with short, sub-depressed, black hairs, and having black punc- tures in distant rows ; membrane pale fuscous, a distinct yellowish spot at the inner basal angle, and a small one at the outer angle ; nerves broadly whitish in the middle ; or the membrane is abbreviated, fuscous, with a pale spot under the apex of the corium and indications of pale nerves. Xeys — thighs black, the extreme apex of all, the basal third of the 2ud and 3rd pairs, t\\e fulcra, all the tih'ice wholly (except sometimes the 1st pair at the extreme apex), the Ist and 2nd joints of the tarsi, and the claws, rufous.
Under-side clothed with delicate, silvery pubescence. Length, If- 2 lines.
This species, as M. Lethierry says (I. c), has doubtless been con- founded with R. chiragrn, Fab. It is distinguished from the latter by its much smaller size, by the shortness, positive and relative, of the antennjr, by the redness of the 3rd as well as of the 2nd joint thereof, by the slighter puncturing of the posterior portion of the pronotum, by the base of the 2nd and 3rd pairs of thighs being broadly red, and by the redness throughout of all the tibioe.
I have two specimens taken on the sand-hills at Deal, one in May, the other in ISeptcmber, 1872.
1875.] 2(37
KlIYPAROClIROMUS CHIRAORA, Filb.
Var. 11. nifji'icornis.
Under this name I wisli to record a foi'm, of wliicli I have two cxamplcH, which differs from the typical li. chiragm chiefly by the an- tennae beinfif wholly black. This peculiarity has ncA^er been recorded, so far as I am aware, and the capture of more examples, or the re- examination of those in collections, may possibly result in establishing this form as a species.
Peeiteechus >'rBiLrs. Lyrjodns nuhihis, Fall., Hem. Suec.,51s 10 (1829); Thoms., Opusc. Ent.,
ii, 193,30 (1S70). Pucliymerus nulilus, Flor, Ehyn. Liv., i, 216, 9 (18G0) ?.
Differs from P. puncticeps (infra) in being distinctly broader througbout and (in my example) of a lighter colour. The head is less perceptibly punctured ; the eyes are less prominent ; the antennce are thinner and slightly shorter ; the p)i'onotiwi is, proportionally broader in front, rather shorter, the sides straighter, and the posterior light coloured portion of the disc more distinctly defined ; tbe mevihrane of the elytra paler.
I have a single example, taken many years ago and of which the locality is not noted, which is very like, but differs as above stated from, P. nubilus, Fieb. ; this I have recently sent to Dr. J. Sahlberg and M. . Lethierry, and they both agree with me that it is Lygceus mihihis, Thoms., nee Fieb. It certainly agrees better than Fieber's species with L. nubilus, Fall., and as Thomson has been the first to separate the two it may be best to believe that he is right in his definition of Fallen's species.
M. Lethierry says that this species is common in the spring, under moss, at Lille. It is probably to be found in our southern counties, or has probably already been mistaken for the following.
Pekitrecuus puncticeps. Lygceus puncticeps, Thoms., Opusc. Ent., ii, 193, 31 (1S70). lieosus nnhilus, F. Sahib., Geoc. Fenn., 05, 29 (1818); Pcrifrcrlius
nulilus, Fieb., Eur. Hem., 184, 2 (ISOl), D. and S., Brit. IIem.,i,
189,2 (1SG5); wee Fall. PeritrecJius pu7icticeps, Leth., Cat., 16 (1871).
Ilcrr Thomson distinguishes this species from the foregoing, thus : "Very like P. nubilus in colour and size, but the antennce are rather " stouter, the eyes more exserted, the thorax rather longer, and ihn front "sparingly but more strongly punctured."
The puncturing of the head is very noticeable.
This is the common British species. Lee, S.E.-: March, 1875.
2G8 ^M^y-
ON CERTAIN BRITISH EEMIPTERA-HOMOPTERA.
BY JOUX SCOTT.
[Description of a neiv species of the genus ATnTSA>'US.]
ATHTSA]*fTJS YeEBALLT, «. sp.
^. Brownish-yellow, eliiuing. Crown with a black transverse streak on the anterior margin extending from eye to eye. Face black, towards the ajDcx dusky-brown, with 6-7 fine yellow transverse lines, the upper throe joined at the base. Elytra : nerves pale, finely mar- gined with dark brown on both sides ; apical areas fuscoiis-black. Legs sordid yellow ; thighs : 1st and 2nd pairs with two narrow black rings at the apex. Abdomen beneath black.
? . Face dusky-brown with the transverse streaks somewhat as in the other sex. Elytra : apical areas ocellate, or sometimes faintly margined with brown. Ahdonien beneath yellowish, with a large, somewhat trapeziform, black patch down the centre of each segment ; lateral valves next the ovipositor brownish, finely spotted with yellow. The other characters generally as in the male.
Length, cJ, 2\, ?, 2^ lines.
Head — crown brownisli-jcllow, with a black transverse streak on the anterior margin, slightly widened in the middle, and extending from eye to eye ; extreme edge yellow ; across the middle a brown streak, in which are two large shallow fovese ; the space enclosed between the transverse streaks paler than the basal portion ; J'ace black, with 6-7 fine, yellow, transverse lines, the upper three springing from a common base near the antennae ; above the latter and adjoining each eye a small yellow spot ; antenncB brown, apex of the joints paler ; setce black.
Thorax — -pronoiiim brownish-yellow, with a sliglit fuscous shade; next the anterior margin a transverse channel, in which is a very fine short streak about in a line with the inner margin ; the space enclosed between the channel and the anterior margin paler than the posterior portion, wliich is finely wrinkled transversely ; scutellum pale yellowish, after death slightly wliitish-yellow with a more or less distinctly defined darker line down the centre, and a short, brownish, longitu- dinal streak about midway between the centre and the basal angles. Elytra brownish-yellow, shining, nerves paler than the disc, and narrowly margined on each side with dark brown ; clavus : inner margin between the apex and the central nerve with a narrow dark brown streak ; suture very narrowly black ; corium : ante-apical area adjoining the anterior margin dark brown, sometimes blackish, and frequently with a palish centre ; apical areas dark fuscous, some- times paler in the centre; wings dark fuscous, nerves black. Legs sordid yellow : thighs : Ist and 2iid pairs with two narrow black rings, the inner one sometimes interrupted at the apex ; 3rd, at the base, with a black dash down the middle ; tibi(B : Ist and 2nd pairs with 2-3 small black spots on the outer margin ; 3rd, •inner margin black, towards the apex brokeij into elongated spots, outer margin
i>'T'i 1 2 GO
witli I'longate blaok spots, spines sordid yollow or sli-^litl.v hrowniNh ; tarsi : Ist and 2iid paii-s slightly brownish ; apex of the 3rd joint black ; 3rd, black ; baso of the 1st joint brownish or brownish-yellow. Abdomen above and beneath black ; genital segments black ; yalvc and plates very narrowly margined with pale brown or brownish-yellow.
I do not know any other species of this genus witli wliicli the insect just described can be confounded. In the markings on the elytra it somewhat resembles Thamnotettix splendididus, but the dif- ference in form of — and characters on the head of — each, will at once distinguish them, exclusive of the larger size of A. VerraUi.
I have much pleasure in naming the species after my friend INIr. Gr. II. Yerrall, who was with me when it was captured in some numbers, on the margin of Poole Bay, by sweeping amongst rushes, at the end of September. I have also a single $ example taken by Mr. E. Saunders, at Littlehampton, in July, 1873.
37, Manor Park, Lee, S.E. :
February, 1875.
OX THE SPECIES OF EPHESTIA OCCURBINa IN BRITAIN.
BY C. a. BARRETT.
Having lately had rather unusual opportunities of studying the more obscure species of the genus Epliestia, native to, or settled in, this country, I am inclined to endeavour to smooth away some of the difficulty which surrounds thcjn.
I may omit JE. interpunctella, and also E. pinguis and artemi- sielln, which indeed hardly belong to the genus, as they are well kno^^^l and easily recognizable.
As in many others of the Phyciilce, the structural characters of the EpliesticB are principally confined to the male sex. These consist of — a lappet or fold of membrane covered with long scales, situated along the under-side of the costa near the base, — one or two tufts or flocks of long hairs at the base of the upper-side of the hind-wings, — and sometimes a peculiar formation of the antennas beyond the basal joint.
EiMiESTiA ELUTELLA, lliibn. — Forc-wiiigs moderately broad, with regularly rounded costa ; in the $ slightly dilated near the base of the costa, — the large size of the projecting lappet giving the wing a slightly shouldered appearance. Colour pale grey ; a straight ohliijue transverse line at about one-iliinl tlic length of the wing from the base, inclining outward from the costa, and another, sinuous, lino, ol)lique in the opposite direction, near to, and almost parallel with, the bind margin. Between these on the disc arc two
270 ^^^^y'
dark grey dots arranged nearly perpendicularly to the margin. Hind- wings wliitisli edged with grey, in the ^ with tivo tufts of long yel- lowish scales at the base. Antennae simple beyond the thickened basal joint.
This species varies greatly in size and colour. Males of the late autumn brood are veiy small, and sometimes nearly white. Other specimens are dark grey with the lines barely indicated by their pale edges. Some pale specimens have the lines very dark, especially towards the costa, and occasionally a dark shade runs from the costa near the apex into the middle of the disc. Another form has the dorsal margin broadly ochreous or even reddish, and this in many collections, represents — ^perhaps correctly — semiriifa, Haworth. A ra- ther curious dwarf form, beaten out of yew trees in Cumberland by Mr. Hodgkinsou, appears to have the first transverse line even further from the base than usual, and has therefore also been mistaken for semirufa.
EhiteUa seems to be generally pretty common, and may be beaten out of thcitch, ricks, and even other shelters far removed from houses, but it is most common in Loudon and other large towns, and swarms in grocers' warehouses.
It seems to me exceedingly probable that Haworth's description of semirufa (as Avell as of rufa and auffusta) was made from a variety of this species.
Epiiestia semirufa, Stn. (Haw. ?).- -Fore-wings moderately broad, costa less arched than in clutella. Lappet in the ^ hardly projecting, covered with short, hair-like scales. Colour of fore-wings pale h'ownish-ochreous, sometimes tinged with grey. First line brown, very oblique, near the middle of the wing, second line double, brown, sinuous, further from the hind margin than in elutella, the enclosed space in the middle of the wing is therefore small, and the two lines approach each other on the dorsal margin. Disc with two faint brown spots. Hind-wings whitish in the (^ , with two basal yellow tufts ; pale grey in the ? .
Apparently a very local species. The only specimens that I have seen were beaten out of ivy some years ago, on the south coast of Devon, by Dr. Jordan.
Epiiestia ficella, Stn., Dougl. — A large handsome species. Fore- wings very narrow at the base, much arched beyond the middle. Costal lappet small and inconspicuous, not dilated. Fore-wings dull dark grey tinged with brownish (under a lens, cream colour, covered with large, coarse, black scales). First line nof oblique, whitish, four times
18T5. 271
sharply niicjiilated, extornally odgel witli l)liu"lc, second line whitish very indistinct, strongly angulated below the costa, and giving off pale dashes to the hind margin, along which is a row of black dots. The blackish distal spots but faintly visible. Ilind-wings whitish, having in the (^ one pale ochreous tuft at the base. Antenna) simple.
This species appears to be rather scarce. It was bred some years ago by Messrs. Doubleday, Bond, and Courtney, from larvae feeding on cork.
Epiiestia ficulella,'%j. n. Al. cxp., 7-8 lines. — Fore-wings very narrow at the base, strongly arched beyond the middle. Costal lappet narrow, with a tuft of loiiff hair-like scales laid lenr/thioise beneath the wing. Fore-wings smooth and shining, pale slate colour with a small ill-defined ochreous patcli at the base of the dorsal margin. The first transverse line is at one-third the lengtli of the wing from the base, pale grey, externally edged with dark grey sjwfs, and nearly perpen- dicular to the margins. Second line pale grey, often obsolete, obliqiie, angulated above the middle, slightly edged on both sides witli grey dots. Faint dashes of ochreous lie longitudinally between the wing rays. Hind margin faintly dotted w^itb dark grey, cilia pale grey. Hind-wings whitish, edged with brownish, cilia white. ^ with one ochreous tuft at the base. Antenna? thickened beyond the basal joint, then constricted and slightly bent, and again thickened before as- suming the usual simple form.
Head, antenna?, palpi and thorax slate-grey, abdomen brown.
Rather common in London and other large towns in grocers* warehouses, feeding on currants, figs, &c.
This species is placed in many collections under the grotesque (not to say macaronic) names of Ji(ju1clla, ^ff/uUcUa, and fK/uJiUcUa. To prevent confusion as far as possible, I have therefore adopted the nearest feasible approach to these names, — although the insect cannot be said to show any partiality for little Jlrjs over large ones.
Epiiesta PASsrLELLA, sp. n. Al. exp., G-7 lines. — Fore-wings nar- row, especially at the base, costa less arched than in the preceding spe- cies. Costal lappet with a broad tuft of scales. Fore-wings ])ale fuscous with a yellowish tinge, scales large and coarse, and easily rubbed off. First transverse line at one-third the length of the wing, fuscous, ill- defined, straight, and very slightly oblique. Second line parallel with the hind margin, pale, faintly edged with fuscous, often nearly obsolete. Usual two dots on the disc ol)liquc, fuscous, hardly discern- ible, cilia yellowish-fuscous. Hind-wings white, with scattered f ii.scous scales, and a faint brown margin, cilia white. ^ witli one ochreous tuft atthe base. Head, antennfo, pal])i, thorax and abdomen yellowish- fuscous. Antenna> simple beyond the thick basal joint.
272 ^^^"y-
njocallj common in currant warehouses. An obscure species, pro- bably overlooked. I have named it from its food (PassuJce corinthiacw), dried currants.
During the summer and autumn of 1874, I was closely tied by business to London, especially to the East End, and naturally turned my attention to sucb species of Lepidoptera as might possibly be within reach. Profiting by hints received from Mr. Howard Vaughan, and introductions from other kind friends, I spent such time as I could spare in investigating some of the extensive grocers' fruit warehouses in the city, more especially in the hope of meeting with the rare and little known Mellssohlaptes cephalonica. On July 31st, I met with two specimens of this species in a warehouse window ; but, as no more appeared for a considerable time, it seems possible that these might have been stragglers of an early brood, previously unnoticed. At the same time Ephestia elutella was out in swarms.
On August 19th, E. ficuleUa appeared in numbers with a few interpunctella, and remained, I believe, on the wing all that month, but circumstances prevented me from looking for them till Sept. 21st, w^hen I found IlelissohJapies ceplialonica out in some plenty and in very fine condition, nearly all the specimens then being males, the females making their appearance later. This species continued out accompanied by a late brood of Epiiestia elutella and of E. inter- punctella till the end of October. In this month also appeared a late brood of E.Jiculella very sparingly.
I first noticed the more obscure E. passulella on October 10th, flying among the swarms of elutella, and it continued to appear freely till near the end of October.
Eor E. Jicclla I did not find a favoured locality till too late for it to be of any use ; but, at the end of October, in a warehouse in which rough cork had been stored for a considerable time, I found the remains of many specimens in the spiders' webs. Early in the month casual specimens occurred in the fruit warehouses and in the streets.
This last species seems very sluggish, and I never saw it fly, but E. elutella and E. passulella are exceedingly active and lively, flying freely in the afternoon as soon as a lamp is brought to bear on their retreats. Indeed, the air often seemed alive with these species and interjyunctella, — all thi'ce having a similar hovering flight. The flight of M. cephalonica is quite different when disturbed, as it darts down in a zig-zag, and almost immediately settles again. Towards evening the males run about, quivering their wings in a peculiar manner. This species shows wonderful skill in concealment by selecting the projections and inequalities of rough beams, to
1875.] 27;}
^vliich its appcaranoo, from its rougli blunt head and closely folded wings, bears so close a resemblance tbat I have taken specimens between my fingers before I could satisfy myself that they were not projecting splinters.
It is, of course, siiperfluous to remark that these species must have been introduced into this country with the dried fruits upon which they feed. More than this, they are still being constantly replenished from abroad, as every cargo of fruit swarms with larvae, vast numbei's of which die from change of climate or some other cause, and many doubtless come to maturity. It is obvious, however, that numbers are also hatched aud reared on the spot, from the fact that the places in Avhich old currants have been stored, so as to serve them for food, are always the most pi'olific. Indeed, the new fruit only begins to come in at the end of September, when the moths arc already appearing in plenty. It is, of course, impossible to obtain certain information as to species from workmen or even from the owners or foremen of the warehouses ; but, as far as I can judge, the same species in equal numbers have been found for many years past. Very certain it is, that they have formed a settlement from which it would be no easy task to expel and exterminate thorn.
From larvic secured and eggs obtained I hope materials will bo furnished for interesting papers from my friend Mr. Buckler in the future.
Pembroke: 1875.
NEW OENEEA AND SPECIES OP LONGICORNS FEOM SOUTH
AMERICA.
BY II. W. BATES, F.L.S.
CnALCOPRiONUS, nov. gen. {Prionida;, sub-fam. Cte^ioscdincc).
^. Corpus elongato-ohlongum, supra sub-metaUicum, nudum. Caput exserlum. Oculi emarginati, sub-grosse granulali. MandibulcB elongateB, subrectcB, extus apicem versus dent atcB, intus utrinque prope basin unidentattB. Palpi hand eloiigali, apice vix dilatati, truncaii. Thorax lalus, transversus, lateribus crenulalis, ante basin spinosus, deinde ad basin subito augustatus ; stipra stibtilissime granulatus, opacus, lineis nitidioribus scabrosis. Elytra thorace angttstiora et quintuplo longiora,paral- lelogrammica, apice ad suturam spinosa. Antenna corpore dimidio longiores,Jili' formes, tuberculatcB, nudte ; articulo primo elongnlo, gradatim clavato, tertio cateris longiori, 4 — 11 subaqualibus, 10 — 11 solum sub f us strigosis. Pedes elongaii, graciles, femoribus tibiisque anterioribus deuliculatis ; tarsi artlculis 1 — 3 subtus breviter, dense pilosis, Z^" breviter bilobo ; anticis lateribus longe ciliatis. Corpus subtus subnitidum ; mesosternum convexum. Metasternum elongatum, episternis prope apicem paulo angustnlis. Abdominis processu infer coxas angusie triangulari.
274 t^''^>''
9 . Thorax elyfris miiUo angustior, omnino scahroso-ptmctatus et incpqualis, spina valida laterali mediana, altera minorijuxta angulos anticos. Antennee cor20ore paulo hreviores, hand tuberculatcB, articulis terminallbus minute striatis. Pedes antici hand denticidaii, nee tavsis cilialis.
This fine new Priouid might, at first glance, be taken for a Pyrodes, in consequence of its metallic colour and general form ; it belongs, howBTer, in reality to a different section of the family. But it has no close relationship to the metallic Fsalidognathi of the same section, having more real affinity with Ctenoscelis, in spite of its very different facies. In the sculpture of the thorax of the (?, as well as in the form of the mandibles, and to a great extent also of the antennae, it closely approaches G. ater ; from which it differs in the form of the thorax, especially in the long lateral spine ; in the quite different shape of the same organ in the $ , and in the only partially and minutely denticulated tibiae. As Mecosartliron in the sub-family CtenoscelincB presents some approximation to it in the length of the thoracic spine, our new genus may 2)erliaps be admitted into the same group.
Chalcopriontjs Badeis'i, n. sp.
Elongato-ohlongiis, mgro-eupretis, capite et mandihnUs grosse scahroso-punctatis, illo medio usque ad collum sulcata; thorace sultilissime punctulato, opaco, dorso vittis medianis duabus, lituraque utrinque laterali, scabrosis, nitidis; elytris densissime subtiliter rugtdoso-punctulatis, hasi^grosse punctatis, utrinque costulis tribus sub- obsoletis : $ differt thorace grosiissime scabrono, elytris Icetius cupreis.
Long., $ , 1 in. 9 lin. ; $ , 1 in. 11 lin.
A pair of this handsome and remarkable Longicorn were brought home by their captor, Herr Wallis, who took them at Frontino, on the Cauca side of the Central Cordillera in New Granada. The general colour is dark coppery-brown or black, the elytra (especially in the $ ) being most metallic. Owing to the dense and fine sculpture, the surface, though without pubescence, is scarcely shining. The thorax in the <y is considerably wider tban the elytra, and its width is moi'ethan double its length. Anteriorly, it is not deeply emarginate to receive the head, and the anterior angles are broadly truncated ; from the exterior end of the truncature it rather rapidly widens (with crenulated edges) to the very acute lateral spine placed much behind the middle, whence it rather suddenly narrows to the basal angle. The surface is very minutely punctulate and opaque, except for the scabrous shining lines, of which there axe two running along the disc from the fore to the hind margin (each dilated in tbe middle), and one on each side extending from the lateral spine to the disc, and thence abruptly bent towards the base. The thorax in the 5 is equally short, but miich narrower;
1S75.] 27")
llie'aiitcrior angles terminate in a elioi't spine, and the long lateral spine is exactly in the middle, the surface being covered a\ illi coarse rugged sculpture, and with two irregular longitudinal ridges.
The male of this fine insect is in the possession of Dr. F. Baden of Altona, to whom my collection is indebted for the female specimen.
Lamiidje, sub-fam. Anisocerince. Phacellocera plagiata, n. sp.
P. plumicorni roiustior ; fusca,, vitta lata mediana a vertice usque prope ely- trorum apicem {ibique dilalata) ducta, ochraceo-cinerea ; antennis minus elongatis, nigro-piceis, articulo 3'o apice nodosa. Long. 6i lin.
Of rather broader and more robust form than either P. plumi- cornis or Batesii, and totally different in colour, the upper surface being dark brown, with a broad central ochreous-ashy vitta extending from the top of the forehead, along the cro^vvn, thorax, and sutural region of the elytra, nearly to the apex, just before which it is widely dilated, thus leaving only a narrow apical border of the dark ground colour. The sculpture of the elytra is very different from that of the other species, the brown portion (especially towards the base) being thickly punctured, with the anterior edges of the punctures raised iu granula?. The body beneath scantily pubescent. Antenna? piceous ; apex of third joint enlarged and hairy, fourth and following simple. Tarsi testaceous tawny. The pro- and meso-sterna are narrow and simple.
Turimaguas, R. Huallaga : collected by Mr. E. Bartlett.
ClIALASTI>-US RECTICORNIS, 11. Sp.
C. Egaensi (White) simillimus, at antennis ariiculis 5 — 7 c? red is ; fuscus, ochraceo-irrorattis, lineaque dorsali thoracis ochracea ; elylris maculis majoribus iionnuUisfulvis,fasciaque obliqua ante apicem ochracea, an/ ire late nigro-marginata.
Long. 6 — 7 tin. $ .
Much resembling O. Egaensis, but distinguished by the antennal joints being quite straight in the ^, instead of the 5th to 7th being curved and produced interiorly at their apex ; these joints also arc considerably longer than iu C. Egaensis. In other points there are several minor differences. The elytra are much more triangular, and the basal crests much more elevated. The posterior ochreous fascia is sub-interrupted near the suture (as in Egaensis), but prcceiled by a much broader black fascia, and there is a conspicuous oblong black spot on the disc of each, near the suture.
Santarem, Amazons ; from a collection oljtaincd by ]\Ir. Janson. Three exami)les, all t?.
27() [May,
Gtmnoceeus Badexi, 11. sj).
Oblongo-ovatns, supra cinereo-alhus,ft(sco-var{egatus; thoracis dorso valide tri-tu- herculato ; elytris disco postlco hicostatis, hasi granulatis ; antennis articido tertio apice perpaalnm, ■iio mac/is, incrassatis, nudis; ariiculo Wno ^recedenti hand breviori} mesosterno hituberciilato. Long. 8 lin. S ■
In general form and facies similar to Anisocerus scopifera and onca ; but having the form of antenna? o£ Gymnocerus (especially G. monachimis). The head is brown and punctured in front ; ashy- white on the crown. The thorax has a strong conical lateral spine, and three large tubercles in triangle on the disc ; the tubercles and other lesser elevations are black, the space between them tawny-brown, the rest ashy-white. The scutellum is tawny. The elytra are relatively nar- rower and more trigonal than in the typical species ; the basal part is granulated, densely so only on the elevations, and on the posterior disc of each are two raised lines united behind ; the general colour is ashy- white, the granules and some patches dark brown, the largest patches forming a flexuous belt from the shoulder towards the scutellum and suture (with a separate round spot near the latter), and a second short belt behind the middle varied with long tawny streaks. The legs and antennae are pitchy-red ; the tarsi ashy, with the claw joint red.
Frontino, New Granada ; coll. Dr. Baden and H. W. Bates.
HOPLISTOCERUS DIYES, 11. Sp.
Obloigus, ceneo-viridis, glaber, elytris crebre cBqualifer piinctatis, vix nitidis ; pedibus anlennisque nigro-chalybeis, femoribus posticis abdomineqiie Icete rubris.
Long. 5 lin. J .
Head brilliant golden-green, front convex, closely and confluently punctured, vertex transversely strigose, labrum red. Thorax unarmed, but sides slightly tumid, brilliant brassy-green, and surface transversely strigose. Scutellum broad, truncated behind, brassy-green. Elytra dark silky-green with purplish reflexions, uniformly punctured. Legs and tarsi dark steel colour, hind femora and abdomen red. Antenna) ( J ) longer than the body by one-half ; scape forming an elongated smooth club ; 2nd to Ith joints with a strong sharp spine at their apices; 11th short, claw-like.
Bahia ; taken by Mr. Edwyn Eeed.
The species is perfectly congeneric with JT. gloriosus, and the form of the scape of the latter (thickened from near the base) proves to be only a specific character.
The genus Demopiioo, Thorns., admitted by Lacordaire, cannot be separated from Hoplistocerus. D. hatnciius, which I have had an
1876.] 277
opportunity of studying in the rirli collection of Dr. Baden, somewhat resembles H. gemmatus (Bates), Nicaragua, but is a perfectly distinct species, with an obtuse lateral tubercle to the prothorax.
OyrcnocERUs ampliatus, n. sp.
Magnvs, ovatiis ; infra nig er, opacus, supra cine reus ; thorace parvo, ufrinque ante et supra coxam spina magna, disco tuhereuUs duohus valde elevatis ; elytris amplissimis, supra uirinque crista valida hasali, tubercuUs duobus disci, alteris majoribus geminatis posteriorihus, alteraque prope apicem, cinerels, plagis utrinque marginal ibus nigris ; pedibus nigris, opacis. Long. 10 — 11 lin. $ .
Relatively much broader than O. scorpio, with much smaller thorax. The auteuuc'e ( $ ) are only two-thirds the length of the body, with long 2nd joint (half as long as the 3rd), and 5th to 10th abbre- viated and dilated ; 11th clawrshaped. All the tibise are much com- pressed and dilated towards the apex, and have a conical prominence on the outer edge near the knee joint, the rest of their edges being simple. The spine on the flank of the prothorax (below the lateral tubercle) is longer than in O. scorpio, and the two dorsal tubercles more elevated. The elytra are broader and shorter ; the shoulders produced and sub-falcate, the sides sinuated behind them, and much rounded outwards behind the middle ; the ridge-shaped tubercles on the posterior part of the disc are double and much elevated ; the humeral prominences and basal crests are tubcrculatcd, and there is a line of tubercles along the suture.
E. Ucayali and Macas ; Peru and Equador. The ashy colour of the iipper surface varies, probably according to locality, from uniform ashy-white to ashy more or less clouded with dusky.
Eu.STHENOMUS, IIOV. ffCfl. Gen. Tlatysterno ajfflne atque quoad formam simile; dijfert antennis xdroque sexu. elongatissimis, etc. Corpus oblongum. Caput fronte infra dilatata ; oculis distantibus, subliliter grannlatis. Antenna ((J) corpore triplo longiores simplices ; scapo pyriformi, articulis 8 — 11 valde elongatis, subcequalibus. Thorax dorso value bicarinalus, spina lalerali magna, acuta, simplici. Elglra apice late rolundata ; humeris valde exiantibus, aculis ; dorso utrinque valde unicarinata, carinis post scutellum carina transversali conjunctis. Mesoslernum transversum, antice biluber- culatum ; acelabula extus late hiantia. Tarsi antici {^) vix dilatati,arliculo prima lateribus ciliatis.
This genus will not fit any of Lacordaire's "groups." In its character it is almost exactly intermediate between the genera Platij- sfermis and Stcirastoma, having the antennfo of the latter, and the thorax, clytral carina*, and open middle acetabula of the former. With regard to the lateral spines of the thorax, although they have not a tubercle on their anterior sides as in Plafi/.'ifernus, there is a similar
278 f^'-'>"'
tubercle, a little fiirtlier removed, situated on the flanks of the thorax. The strongly raised median carina on each elytron, curved outwards near the base, and emitting a branch to the suture, is a character which it shares only with Platystrrnus ; the base of the carina also projects forward into a sinuation in the hind margin of the thorax as in Pint yst emus. There is a similar carina near the sutui^e, and a less conspicuous one near each side. The humeral angles of the elytra differ in form from those of all allied genera at present known ; they project as a strong conical tooth, with the acute apex not pointing forward, as in Polyrhapliis, but laterally, and the anterior margin perfectly straight : the apices of the elytra are very obtusely rounded. The long and slender apical joint of the antennae separates this genus from the Anisoccrince, with which it has many points in common. In the single example supposed from the simple anterior tarsi to be a ? , the antennte are imperfect, but they show no abbreviation of the joints as far as the 6th.
EusTHENOMrs Wallisi, n. sp.
Ohlongus, latus, tomenio carneo-fulvo fusco-macidato vestitus ; cajnte grosse punctata ; thorace carinis dorsalibus nigris, nudis ; elytris hasi ('cum carinisj nigra- granulatis, cceteris fusco-punctatis, maculisque difformibus et fascia lata pone medium (ad suturam inteiTuptaJ velutiiio-atrqfuscis : antennis griseis, hand ciliatis, articuJis apice nigris. Long. 1 in. Lat. pone humeros, 6 lin.
Similar in form and convexity to Plati/sternus hehi-ceus, but antennae much longer and more robust. The whole upper surface is clothed with a ])iiikish light brown tomeutum, the granulations on the head and base of the elytra, and the stronger carinae, being black, naked, and shining. The elytra are much varied with markings and spots of a velvety pui'ple-brown colour ; some of the largest spots uniting behind the middle into a leather broad fascia, interrupted near the suture and on the sides. The under-side is scantily pubescent, black and shining.
Taken at Frontiuo, on the Cauca side of the Cordillera, Xew Graiiada, by Herr AVallis. Two examples only, of which one has been kindly given me by Dr. Baden, the other remaining in his collection.
Bartholomew Eoad, Kentish Town, N.W. : April 1875.
Localities for , Typhaus vulgaris. — It may be of interest to note that at 6 p.m. on March 25th, I foiuid a $ specimen of this beetle in Kensington Q-ardens, in the act of taking flight and verj lively. Three days after, I found another $ , dead, in one of the opon drives of the New Forest. — A. O. Ward, 13, Tarkfields, Putney : April 'dlh, 1875. •
is::..] 270
Arrented development in Timarcha coriaria and Lagria hirta. — The following instances of arrested development, causing a want of symmetry in the legs of insects, arc interesting, and seem to me to be -worth publishing, inasmuch as, so far as I know, no similar instances have been recorded. In a $ specimen of Timarcha coriaria, taken last autumn in Switzerland, this want of development occurs in the right middle leg, all the others being of normal size. The following are the dimensions of the stunted right leg, and its normal fellow on the left side : — Femur, L., 3 milli- metres, R., very slightly shorter ; tibia, L., 3 mill., R., 1'75 mill. ; tarsi, L., 2 mill., R., 1 mill. : the claws being exceedingly minute and barely projecting beyond the last tarsal joint, all of which are present and equally developed, though not attaining the normal size.
In a specimen of Lagria Jiirta, the dwarfing occurs in the posterior pair of legs, and in this case again the right leg is the stunted member. The measurements of this specimen are: — Femur, about 2 mill, in both legs; tibia, L., 2 mill., R., 1.75 mill. ; tarsi, L., I'oO mill, (last joint wanting), R., 1 mill.
In both cases the want of symmetry caused by the arrested growth is more con- sijicuous than would appear from the above figures. — W. A. Forbes, 35, S. Castlo Street, Edinburgh : March 2\st, 1875.
On xome European ' Micros ' aivag from home. — Among the species described by
the lato Dr. B. Clemens, Mr. Stainton recognises many European species, as shown
in his valuable re-publication of Ur. Clemens' papers.
y Prof. Frey, of Zurich, has recently described a few American species from the
V^i vicinity of Cambridge, Massachusetts, and among them recognises LilhocoUelis
\ trifasciella, var. ? Haw. I have never met with this, nor indeed any ' Micro ' mining
honeysuckle leaves, but I learn from Prof. C. V. Riley that he has met with a species
(probably L. trifasciella) mining them at Chicago. It has probably not extended
its migrations southward since its arrival in this country.
Among the species new to this country which have come under my observation (some 3U0 in number), many, no doubt, will prove to have been previously known in Europe.
Among them I recognise Endrosis fenesirella from California, Tinea tapelzella from Canada, and T. pellionella from Canada and Kentucky ; and the beautiful Argyre-ilhia Ooedartella from Canada. It is a little singular, that the greater number of European species heretofore found in this country are found as yet only in Canada and the more Northern Slates. On the other hand, some genera found in Europe, e.g. Cleodora, have not been found in this country north of Texas. But the particular species to which I wish to draw attention, is the well-knovra and pretty little Gelechia Hermannella, and a singular (climatic ?) variety of it. So far as I can learn, no variety of this species has yet been found in Europe, though the species occurs from Lapland to Naples.
Some tliree years ago, I found the larvoj mining leaves of Chenopodium on tlio sliore of Lake Michigan, lat. 43 deg. N. ; and from them I bred several specimens, differing in no essential particular from the figure in Nat. His. Tin., Vol. ix, plate 8. Afterwards, I often found them mining the same leaves in Northern Kentucky, lat. 38 deg. (nearly) ; but, as I had as many specimens as I then wanted, and never thought of a variety, I did not attempt to breed thein until the summer of 1871- The larva
280 ■ [May,
was the same, the mine was the same, and the mined leaves were of the same plant as I had found in "Wisconsin, but, to my surpiuse, all the specimens that I have yet bred differ so decidedly from the ordinary Q. Hermannella, that probably any Entomologist would have considered, them, if only captured, as of distinct species. Yet a little ingenuity, on comparison of the specimens, will show how the one pattern of ornamentation is readily resolvable into the other. One who knows this ' Micro,' or the figure of it before mentioned, will remember the silvery fascia dark margined on both sides, the small silveiy spot before the fascia beneath the fold, and the larger one just above the fold behind the fascia. Now, suppose the dark margins of the fascia increased in quantity, especially the posterior dark margin ; then suppose all the dark margin behind the fascia gathered on the costal margin forming a velvety black spot 80 large that it touches the small silvery spot above the fold behind the fascia ; in like manner, suppose the anterior dark margin of the fascia gathered together in a velvety black spot before the fascia on the dorsal margin, large enough to incorporate the silvery sjiot before the fascia beneath the fold ; then sujipose the fascia widely interrupted in the middle : — and you have the variety. The costal par of the fascia thus becomes the anterior silvery margin of a large velvety-looking black costal spot, which, by its confluence with the silvery spot above the fold, appears to be margined with silvery at that point, and sometimes has a few silvery scales scattered through it ; and the dorsal portion of the fascia becomes the hinder silvery margin of a large velvety-looking black dorsal spot, which, by its confluence with the silvery spot beneath the fold, appears to be margined vrith silvery at that place, and sometimes contains a few scattered silvery scales. Except that the quantity of black and silvery scales is increased somewhat, the insect does not differ from the old form.
Miss Mary E. Montfeldt, of St. Louis, Missouri, informs me that she has found only the variety there. St. Louis is also near lat. 38 deg., that is, nearly 3 deg. south of Naples ; but then we are on the isothermal line of London, England, with much hotter summers and colder winters. But whether climate has anything to do with it is matter of conjecture. — V. T. Chambers, Covington, Kentucky, United States : January hth, 1S75.
Entomological Society of London: \st March, 1875.— Sir S. S. Saundeks, C.M.Q-., President, in the Chair.
W. D. Eobinson-Douglas, Esq., of Castle Douglas, N.B., formerly a subscriber, was elected a member of the Society.
Mr. F. H. Ward exhibited living examples of a Lepisma distinct from L. aaccharina, and unknown to Sir J. Lubbock, to whom they had been submitted. They had been found in and about a bake-house in the neighboiu-hood of London. Mr. McLachlan said it would be interesting to ascertain if American flour were used in the bake-house, as the species might be identical with one of those recently described by Dr Packard in America. Mr. Ward said he had seen the species from Philadelphia. He also exhibited a set of microscopic slides illustrating the oeconomy, &c., of the chigoe.
Mr. Champion exhibited a well-grown individual of Empiisa patiperala sent by Mr. J. J. Walker from Corfu.
Mr. W. C. Boyd communicated some notes witl»rcfcronce to the fleas from rabbits'
1875.] 2Sl
cars exhibited by Mr. Yon-all at the previous meeting, lie had found as luanj' as 300 fleas or thereabouts in the ears of one rabbit, but did not think they troubled the animal much as there were no signs of inflammation, lie also stated that fleas swarmed on hedgehogs.
Mr. Dunning called attention to a paper by Dr. Leconte on entomological generic nomenclature, appearing in the December No. of the ' Canadian Ento- mologist.'
The Rev. H. S. Gorham read descriptions of 18 new species of EndomycMdcB.
loth March, 1875. — The President in the Chair.
The Rev. R. P. Murray communicated notes bearing on the question of the specific identity or distinctness of Butterflies of the genus Terias, known as T- Hecabe, L., Aslope, Men., and Sari, Horsfld., and exhibited the insects. Mr. Miskin of Brisbane informed him that ho had bred typical Ilecabe and JEsiope from larv£e feeding on the same plant (a species of Indigofera), and Mr. Murray had received numerous intermediate forms from Queensland, and also from N. W. India, where they appeared to be equally common. In Japan, typical Secahe was common, but JEsiope apparently absent, though a species occurred there which he could not distinguish from the W. African Brenda, Doubd. As regards T. Sari, the evidence was not so strong, but still he thought it might be a form of the same species.
Professor Westwood said it would be important to ascertain whether the supposed species belonged to the same or different broods, reminding the meeting of the differences in the broods of our common White Butterflies which had been the cause of their receiving distinct names. Mr. Butler was disposed to doubt the correctness of the supposition that T. Sari was only a form of Ilecabe, though he thought the breeding of the latter and JSsiope from the same food-plant was a strong point in favour of their id(!ntity.
Mr. A. F. Sealy exhibited and distributed examples of an Ornithoptera, from the Malabar Coast. He had bred them from larvro feeding on Aristolochia iudica.
Prof. Westwood exhibited drawings of new forms of Heteromera, illustrating several interesting new genera and species to be described by him.
Mr. Butler read a review of Boisduval's recently published volume of the Suites \ Buffon, Lcpidopt^res, containing the SphivgidcB (including Zt/gana, cjc)- His criticisms were of an adverse nature as to the letter-press, and favourable as to the plates.
Dr. Sharp communicated some necessary corrections to his paper on the Water- Beetles of Spain.
Mr. McLachlan stated that an examination of examples of the Lejiisma exhibited at the last meeting by Mr. Ward had not convinced hiin of its identity with any of Dr. Packard's recently described American species. Prof. Westwood said he had seen British specimens of Lipura corticina, Bourlet, not included as native in Sir John Lubbock's Monogi'aph.
Mr. F. Smith read descriptions of new genera and species of Indian Acxileatc Ilymenoptera, collected by Mr. Rothney ; referring to species of Nomia and allies with capitate autennso, he stated that he was acquainted with 5 speiccs in which that poculiariiy existed.
Mr. Buly conuuuniraLtcl drscriptions of new gcucru and .iperios of rhyfo/'/ni'/o.
2S2 [May, IS-'
Mr. 0. O. Waterliouse exhibited &\iYingexamip\e of Monohammus Heros bred in England from foreign timber. He also I'ead the first part of a paper on the Lamellicorns of Japan, including 40 new species.
5th April, 1875. — The President in the Chair.
W. L. Distant, Esq., of Strcatham College, Dulwich, was elected an ordinary member.
Mr. Jenner Weir exhibited a nmnber of juvenile 3IantidcB that had emerged from an egg-case received from Ceylon, and remarked on their great resemblance to those recently exhibited from Borneo.
Mr. Bond exhibited a locust found alive at the bottom of a dry well at Brighton in February. The species was uncertain.
Mr. Scaly read notes on the habits of the species of Ornilhoptera from the IMalabar coast exhibited at the last meeting. The insect was allied to 0. Amphrisius, but there appeared ^to be doubt as to its identity with that species. The pupa possessed the power of causing a sound. He called attention to a peculiarity in the formation of the hind-wings of the ^ , there being a large pouch on the anal margin filled with flufPy hairs.
Mr. McLachlan read extracts from a letter received from Pueblo, Colorado, in wliich the writer stated that in opening his potato-pits in winter, he had found the potato-beetle (Doryphora 10-lineataJ moving briskly and eating greedily, and expressed an opinion that if the importation of potatoes into England were not soon stopped, the beetle would soon be hove. Mr. McLachlan also read a note by Lieut. Carpenter of the United States Geological Survey, contained in the reports of the Zoological collections made by liim in Colorado in 1873 (Washington: 1875). Lieut. Carpenter stated that not a single specimen of the beetle had been seen east of the dividing range. He was of opinion that the insect was dispersed solely by means of seed-potatoes, as it was of sluggish habits and incapable of spreading widely by its own instinct. Its absence from the Salt Lake Basin might be accounted for from the fact of the cheapness of vegetables in the Mormon settlements not rendering it necessary to import potatoes.
Mr. Bates alluded to the original home of the insect, which he thought was the eastern plateaus of the Eocky Mountains, and he had seen it in large numbers from the jilateau surrounding the city of Mexico. He thought that the chance of immunity from it in Europe ^-ested more with climatic conditions than anything else, for although the extremes of heat and cold in those parts of America where it was now proving destructive were greater than hero in England, yet it was not there subjected to the gi*eat moisture of our climate which would possibly bo fatal to it. In connection with this, he alluded to the gi'eat similarity of the insect-fauna of California (where the beetle had not appeared), and other parts of North- Western America with that of Western Europe, a similarity greater than that which existed between om" fauna and that of the nearer eastern States of America.
Mr. S. Stevens said he had received the beetle in large munbers from Orizaba.
Mr. Jenner Weir alluded to the steps taken by our Government concerning an iii.spcction of jiotatoes imported from America. The quantity was probably only about 1000 cwt. annually, and consisted solely of seed-potatoes which came in a very clean condition.
Mr. E. Saunders read the first portion of a Synopsis of British Memiptera- Heteroptera.
END OF VOL. XI.
INDEX.
Gknf.ral Index i.
Entomological Scciety viii.
Special Index —
Colci'pteni X.
Diptera xi.
Hemiptera-Heteroptera xi.
,, -Homoptera xii.
H ymenoptera xii.
Lepidoptera xii.
Neui'optera xv.
List OF Contributors xv.
Genera AND Species KEW TO Science .. xvi.
„ ,, ,, ,, „ Britain .. xviii.
Larv.e OF British Species DESCRIBED .. xviii.
Reviews xi.x.
Obituary xix.
Wood-cuts xi.K.
Errata xix.
INDEX TO GENERAL SUBJECTS.
PAGE
Abdera triguttata, Gjll., OccuiTencc in Britain of ... ... .. ... 63
Abnormal appearance of Noctiia festiva ...• ... ... ... ... ... 139
Acantliosoma griscum, Additional notes on the egg-laying, &c., of ... ... 42
Acidalia straminata, Description of the larva of ... ... ... ... 116
Acrifia from West Africa, Descriptions of five new species of ... ... ... 130
Additional notes on the egg-laying, &c., of Acanthosoma grisenm ... ... 42
Additions to the British list of Tenthredinida) ... ... ... ... 65, 250
„ „ „ list of British Hcmiptera ... ... ... ... ... 62
Agrotis (Noctua) subrosea, Description of the larva of... ... ... ... 67, 89
Amara new to Britain, Note on a species of ... ... ... ... ... 207
Anerastia lotella. Description of the larva, &c., of ... ... ... ... 186
Aiithoniyiidtc, On the arrangement of the British ... ... ... 199,220
Aphelocheirus Ecstivalis, Note on ... ... ... ... ... ... ..16,117
„ „ in Niirfolk, Capture of... ... ... ... ... 92
A phodius villosus. Capture of ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 39
Apion from the Shetland Isles, Description of a new species of ... ... 128
,, new to the British list. Note on a species of ... ... ... ... 156
Aplecta occulta bred in October ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 157
Aquatic Colcoptera, On a new family of Euro]-)ean ... ... ... ... 101
Arrangement of the British AiUhomyiidte, On tlio ... ... . 199, 220
Arrested development in Timarcha eoriaria and Lagria hirta ... ... ... 279
Asthena Blomeraria, Natural lii.story of ... ... ... ... ... ... 87
Aulacothorax cxilis, Bohcman, Note on . ... ... ... ... ... 137
Beetles occurring in the Shetland Isles, Note on ... ... ... .. 112
Boarmia robornria, Description of the larva, &(■., of ... ... ... ... 10
liold. Death of Thomas Jolin ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 20
Bolivian Ehopalocera, Note on ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 65
Bombyx rubi from the larva, IIow to rear ... ... ... ... ... 188
Botys nubilalis (lupulinalis) in London, Occurrence of ... ... ... 256
Bra.-iHolinrc from Bogota, Descrijition of a new species of ... ... ... 2(I3
British llemiptera— Additional species 9, 112, 1 1 1, 173, 263
„ „ , Additions to th(! list of ... ... ... ... ... 62
PAGE
British Tremiptera: correction. Deraeocoris foniicatus ... ... ... 117
„ „ : memoranda for residents and tourists ... ... ... 41
„ „ -Ilomoptcra, On cei'tain British ... ... ... ... 268
„ list of TenthredinidsD, Additions to the... 65,250
„ oak-galls ... ... ... ... ... ... ... •.. ... 109
„ Tortrices, Notes on 12,28,59,132,152,191
Brood of white-ants (Termites) at Kcw .. ... ... ... ... 15
Butterflies, Descriptions of new species of ... ... ... ... ... 56
„ „ „ six new species from South America, West Africa,
and Borneo ... ... ... ... ... 182
„ from Costa Rica, Descriptions of three new ... ... ... 36
On a collection of, made by Mr. J. Milne in Newfoundland ... 244 , » 'J
„ recently brought from Cape Coast, West Africa, Notes on a col- lection of, with description of a new species from Natal ... 57
„ Notes on Japanese, with descriptions of new genera and species... 166
Capture of Aphelocheirus oestivalis in Norfolk ... ... ... ... ... 92
„ „ Aphodius villosus ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 39
„ „ Noctua sobrina ... ... ... ... ... ... ...89, 116
„ „ Pachnobia alpina .. ... ... ... ... ... ... 89
,, „ Papilio Antimachus, &c.. Note on ... ... ... ... ... 113
Captures of Coleoptera near Llangollen and Mancliester, Notes on . . . ... 15
„ „ Ilcmiptera on the west coast of Scotland, with description of a
new species ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 118
„ „ Noctuidse at St. Catherine's, in the province of Ontario, Canada
West 258
Carabidse and descriptions of new species. Notes on Cicindelidaj and... 22, 95, 177
Catoptria aspidiscana, &c., Early appearance of .. ... ... ... ... 19
Cetonia aurata. Late appearance of ... ... ... ... ... ... 208
Cetoniidae, Description of a new species of ... ... ... ... ... 35
Chry-somela, Observations on a Tiviparous ... ... ... ... 135,156
Chrysopa tenella, &c., at Wey bridge ... 65
„ , The British species of, examined with regard to their powers of
emitting bad odours ... ... ... ... ... ... 138
Cicada gigas, Notes on the habits of ... ... ... ... ... ... 175
Cicindelidce and Carabidse, and descriptions of new species. Notes on... 22, 95, 177
Coccinella eating Lcpidoptcrous ova ... ... ... ... ... ... 85
Coleoptera at Aviemore, Inverness-shire... ... .. ... ... ... 64
belonging to the genus Toxicum, Description of a new species of
Heteromerous ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 126
from Japan, Description of a new genus and species of ... ... 54
„ South Morocco, Notes on ... 213
near Llangollen and Manchester, Notes on captures of ... ... 15
, Notes on rare Kentish ... ... ... ... ... ... 37
, On a new family of European aquatic ... ... .. ... 101
, On imported .. ... ... ... ... .. ... ... 135
Coleopterous insects belonging to the family Rutelidse, On two new ... ... 52
Comparative descriptions of the larva?, &c., of Xylophasia lithosylca and
polyodon ... ... ... ... ... ... ... •• ... 208
Confirmation of Dianthoecia albimacula as a British species, with description
of its larva, &c. ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 16
ConiTius subapterus, De Geer, On the mode of strlduhition of
Ooriscium Brongiiiardelliim in Ireland ...
Cosmoptcryx Scribaiella bred
Cossonidffi, Diagnostic characters of undcscribed
Crambus verelhis at Folkestone ...
Cremastocheilus from California, Description of a new species of
Crotch, M.A., Death of a. E
Crymodes exulis. Occurrence of . . .
CurculionidiP, A probable hcliciform case-making larva among the
Deilephila euphorbia;, Description of the larva and pupa of ...
Deiopeia pulchclla at Folkestone ...
DepressariaYeatiana bred...
Description of a new genus and species of Colcoptcra from Japan ...
„ ,, „ „ Japanese Lycoperdina
„ „ „ „ Papilio from Madagascar...
„ „ „ „ Pulicideous insect from Ceylon ...
„ „ „ „ species of Apion from the Slietland Isles
„ „ „ „ „ „ Brassolinfc from Bogota
,, „ ,, ,, „ „ Cetoniida}
„ „ „ „ „ „ Cremastocheilus from California
„ „ „ „ „ „ Eriocampa from Scotland ; with note on a
variety of Taxonus equiseti, Fall.... „ „ „ „ „ ,, Ilctcromerous Coleoptera belonging to the
genus Toxicum „ „ „ „ „ „ Liburnia from Biskra (Algeria)
„ „ „ „ „ „ Proctotrypidse from Ceylon ...
„ „ the larva of Acidalia straminata
„ Agrotis (Noctua) subrosea... , &c., of Anerastia lotella
„ „ Boarmia roboraria and pupa of Deilephila euphorbia} of Diivntlioecia albimacula „ Noctua rubi ... , &c., of Erastria fuscida „ „ Ileliothis dipsacea „ ,, Pyrausta pnniccalis ... „ „ two new genera of Scaraba;idaj ...
„ „ three new species of Trigonurus
Descriptions, Comparative, of the larva;, &c., of Xylophasia lithoxylea and polyodon „ of five new Lucanoid Coleoptera ..
„ „ „ „ species of Acrtea from West Africa ..
„ „ three new Butterflies from Costa Eica
„ „ new LycsenidiB from West Africa
„ „ „ species of Butterflies
„ „ „ „ „ Eumorphus and Corynomalus
„ „ „ „ „ Lycaenidse from South America
„ „ „ „ referred to in Mr. Blackmore's notes on Coleop-
tera from South .Morocco
in.
I'.VliK
. 137
117
18
.. 149
.. 117
55
70
85
239
73
157, 210
157
54
.. 151
.. 129
.. 246
.. 128
.. 203
35
55
128
126
119
197
116
67,89
186
40
73
16
210
66
256
66
123
201
208 6
130 36 36 56
180
104
217
PAGE
Descriptions of Rhopalocera from Madagascar ... ... ... ... 226
„ „ six new species of Butterflies from Soutli America, West
Africa, and Borneo ... .. ... 182
„ „ „ „ „ „ Diurnal Lepidoptera in the collection
of the British Museum 1G3
„ „ some new species of the genus Pachytricha .. ... ... 2
„ „ tliree new species of Erotylidaj ... ... ... ... 7S
,) „ two new genera and some new species of Pselapliidoe 70
„ „ „ „ species of Hetcrocerous Lepidoptera in tliecollectiou
of the British Museum ... ... ... ... 77
Diagnostic characters of undescribcd Cossonidfe ... ... .. ... 149
Dianthoecia albimacula as a British species, Confirmation of, with descriptions
of its larva, &c. ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 16
Domestic Entomology : a word in season ... ... ... ... ... 90
Dorville, Death of Henry 160
Early appearance of Catoptria aspidiscana, &c. ... ... ... ... ... 19
Egg-laying, &c., of Acanthosoma griseum, Additional notes on the ... ... 42
Elachista serricornis, &c., at Witherslack ... ... ... ... . . 85
Emmelcsia unifasciata three years in the pupa state ... ... ... ... 140
Endopisa nigricana. Note on ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 83
Entomological scrap. An ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 159
„ Society, Ilaggerston ... .. ... ... ... . . 162
„ „ of London, Proceedings of the. . .45, 69, 93, 161, 190, 212, 239
„ „ , South London ... ... ... ... ... .. 190
Ephestia occurring in Britain, On the species of ... ... ... ... 269
Erastria fuscula, Description of the larva, &c., of ... ... ... ... 66
Eriocam pa from Scotland, Description of a new species of ... ... ,, 128
Erotylidse, Descriptions of three new species of ... ... ... ... 78
Eubolia lineolata, Note on ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 16
Eudorea coarctalis hibernating ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 19
Eumorphus and Corynomalus, Descriptions of new species of... ... ... 180
Eupithecise two years in the pupa state ... ... ... ... ... ... 16
European ' Micros ' away from home, On some ... ... ... ... ... 279
"Fauna and Flora of Norfolk; part t, Lepidoptera, by C. G-. Bai-rctt :"
Review ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 43
Fauna of Lundy Island, A further contribution to the ... ... .. Ill
Food-plant, &c., of Lygris reticulata. On the ... ... ... ... ... 139
Gonopteryx rhamni, Hermapln-oditc ... ... ... ... ... ... 113
Gray, Death of Dr. John Edward, F.R.S 262
Habits of Cicada gigas, Notes on the ... ... ... ... ... ... 175
Haggerston Entomological Society ... ... .. ... ... ... 162
Halonota grandsevana at Hartlepool, Re-occurrence of .. .. ... ... 85
Harpalus latus, L., Note on a curious race of ... ... ... ... ... 84
Heliciform case-making larva among the Curculionida;, A probable ... ... 239
Helicopsyche-cases from Sikkim .. ... ... ... ... ... ... 239
Heliothis dipsacea, Description of the larva, &c., of ... ... ... ... 256
Helophorus tubcrculatus, Gyll., Note on the occurrence in England of ... 135
„ ,, in Yorkshire ... ... ... ... ... ... 235
Hcmiptera, Additions to the list of British ... ... ... ... ... 62
PAGE lIiMiiiplora, British— Additional species 9, 112, 114, 173, 2G3
-Ilonioptera, On certuiu British 120,147,228,229
„ on tho west coast of Scotland, Captures of, with description of a
new species ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 118
„ : Synonymic Notes ... ... .. ... ... ... 181,232
ITerniaphrodite Gonopteryx rhamni ... ... ... ... ... ... 113
llerrieh-Schiifter, Death of Dr 20
Ilomoptcra, Notes on British, with descriptions of additional species .. ... 193
How to rear Bonibyx rubi from the larva ... ... ... ... ... 188
Hybrids between Smerinthus ocellatus and S. populi ... ... ... 110,157
Hydrophilidse, On thi'ee new species of .. ... ... ... ... ... 217
Illustrations of Insect Monstrosities. On a monstrous stag-beetle (Lucanus
claphus) 32
Imported Coleoptera, On ... ... ... .. ... ... ... ... 135
" Insects abroad ; by J. &. Wood :" Review ... ... ... ... ... 159
Keeley, Death of R. a 70
Larentia olivata, Natural history of ... ... ... ... .. ... 86
Larva collecting, &c.,- in the new Foi'cst, Notes on ... ... ... ... 158
„ of Acidalia straminata. Description of the ... ... ... ... 116
„ „ Agrotis (Noctua) subrosea, Description of the ... ... ... 67,89
„ „ Dianthoecia albimacula, Description of the ... ... ... ... 16
„ „ Noctua rubi, Description of the ... ... ... ... ... 210
„ „ „ subrosea, On the ... ... ... ... ... ... 89
„ and pupa of Deilephila euphorbi£e, Description of the ... ... 73
„ , itc, of Anerastia lotclla. Description of the ... ... ... ... 186
„ „ „ Boarmia roboraria, Description of the ... ... ... ... 40
„ „ „ Erastria fuscula, Description of the ... ... ... ... 66
„ „ „ Heliothis dipsacea, Description of the .. . ... ... ... 256
„ „ „ Pyrausta pnniccalis, Description of the ... ... ... G6
„ „ „ Xylophasia lithoxylea and polyodou, Comparative descriptions
of the ' • 208
Late appearance of Cetonia aurata ... ... ... ... ... ... 208
Lello, Death of William l-H
Lemiodes pulveralis at Folkestone, Re-occurrence of ... ... ... ... 117
Lepidojjtera in the collection of the British Museum, Description of six new
Diurnal ... ... ... ... ... ... ... . . 1(J3
„ from South Wales, Notes of ... ... ... ... ... 158
Liburnia froni Hiskra (Algeria), Description of a new species of ... ... 119
Life history of Meligethes ... ... 46
Liodes humeralis, Note oti a variety of ... ... ... ... ... ... §4
Lobcsia reliquana, Note on ... ... ... ... .. ... ... go
Lomaptera, Note on the existence of stridulating organs in the genus ... 13(>
Longicorii Beetles from Australia, On a new genus of ... ... .. ... 127
Longieorns from Soutli America, New genera and species of ... ... ... 2/3
Lueanoid Coleoptera, Descriptions of five new .. ... ... ... ... (j
Lundy Island, A further contribution to the Fauna of... ... ... ... m
Lycasna Adonis, Naturalhistory of .. 113
Lycocnidce from Queensland, New ... ... 1(j5
„ „ South America, Descriptions of new species of ... ... 104
„ „ West .\frica. Descriptions of new ... ... ... ... 3g
PAGE
Lycoperdiiia, Description of a new Japanese ... ... ... ... ... 151
Lygris reticulata, On the food-plant, &c., of ... ... ... ... ... 139
Meligcthes, Life History of ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 46
Monstrosities, Illustration of Insect. On a monstrous stag-beetle (Lucanus
elaphus) 32
Myelois cirrigerella, Zk., a species new to Britain, Occurrence of ... ... 237
Natural history of Asthena Blomeraria . . ... ... ... ... ... 87
„ „ „ Laretitia olivata ... ... ... ... ... ... 86
„ „ „ Lycsena Adonis ... ... ... ... ... ... 113
„ „ „ Syriehthus alveolus ... ... ... .. ... ... 236
New Family of European aquatic Coleoptera, On a ... ... ... ... 101
„ Lyc£enido2 from Queensland . . ... ... ... . . ... ... 165
Noctua festiva, Abnormal appearance of . . ... ... ... ... ... 139
„ rubi, Description of the larva of. .. ... ... ... ... ... 210
„ sobrina, Capture of ... ... ... ... ... ... ..89, 116
„ subrosea. On the larva of . . ... ... ... ... ... ... 89
Noctuidse at St. Catherine's, in the province of Ontario, Canada West,
Captures of ... . . ... ... ... ... ... ... .. 258
Nola albulalis, &c., in North Kent ... ... ... ... ... ... 68
" Nomenclator Zoologicus ; by August von Marschall :" Review ... ... 44
"Norfolk, Fauna and Flora of; part v, Lepidoptera ; by C. G. Barrett:"
Review... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 43
Note on a curious race of Harpalus latus, L. ... ... ... ... ... 84
„ species of Amara new to Britain ... ... ... ... ... 207
„ „ „ Apion new to the British List ... ... ... ... 156
„ variety of Liodes humeraUs ... ... ... ... ... ... 84
„ „ „ Taxonus equiseti, Fall. ... ... ... ... ... 128
Aphelocheirus aestivalis ... ... ... ... ... ... ...16, 117
Anlacothorax cxilis, Boheman ... ... ... ... ... ... 137
Bolivian Rhopalocera ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 65
capture of Papilio Antiniaellus, &c. ... ... ... ... ... 113
Endopisa nigricana ... ... ... ... ... ... .. 85
Eubolia lincolata ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 16
Lobesia reliquana... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 90
Rhopalocera from Africa .. . ... ... ... ... ... ... 16
some Odonata (Dragon-flics) from the Sandwich Islands, &c. ... 92
the existence of stvidulating organs in the genus Lomaptera ... 136
„ occun-ence in England of Ilclophoras tuberculatus, Gyll. ... 135
Notes on a collection of Butterflies recently brought from Cape Coast, West
Africa, with description of a new species from Natal ... ... 57
beetles occurring in the Shetland Isles ... ... ... ... 112
British Hemiptera ... 232, 255
„ Homoptera, with descriptions of additional species... ... 198
„ Tenthredinidffi, with descriptions of new species ... 107, 250
„ Tortrices 12, 28, 59, 132, 152, 191
captures of Coleoptera near Llangollen and Manchester ... ... 15
„ Cicindelidse and Carabidso, and descriptions of new species ... 22, 95, 177
Coleoptera from South Morocco ... ... ... ... ... 213
Japanese Butterflies, with descriptions of new genera and species ... 166
TJl. I'AUE
Notes Oil larva-cullectiiig, if., ill the ?ie\v Foivsl. ... ... ... ... l-'S
,, „ Lopidoptora from South Wak'a.. ... ... ■•• ... ••• 158
„ ,, Odonata from Xewfouiidlaiid, i-ollectcd in 1871, by Mr. J. Milne ... 24-1
„ „ O-vyitra and other Hymenoptei-a ... ... ... ... •.• 39
„ „ rare Kentish Coleoptera... ... .. ... ... ....... 37
„ „ some Tineina observed in 1874... .. ... ... .. ... 238
,, „ the habits of Cicada gigas ... ... ... ... ••■ ... 175
Oak-galls, British 1<»9
Observations on a viviparous Chrysomela ... ... ... ... 135,156
Oceurrence in Britain of Abdera trigiittata, Gyll. ... ... ... ... 63
„ „ England of Uelophorus tuberculatus, Gyll., Note on (he ... 135
,, of Botys iiubilalis (lupidinalis) in London... ... ... ... 256
„ „ Crymodes exulis ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 85
„ „ Myelois cimgerella, Zk., a species new to Britain ... ... 237
Odonata (Dragon-flies) from the Sandwich Islands, &c., Note on some ... 92
„ from Newfoundland, collected in 187 1, by Mr. J. Milne, Notes on ... 241
" On the Transformations of the Common House Fly ; by A. S. Packard,
Jun., M.D. :" Keview 93
Oxyura and other Hymenoptera, Notes on ... ... ... ... ... 39
Pachnobia alpina, Capture of ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 89
Pachytricha, Descriptions of some new species of the genus ... ... ... 2
Papilio Antimachus, <S:c., Note on capture of ... ... ... ... ... 113
„ from Madagascar, Description of a new ... ... ... ... 129
Pleocoma staff, Schaufuss, On the synonymy of... ... ... ... ... 206
Proctotrypidfc from Ceylon, Description of a new species ... ... ... 197
Psclaphidffi, Descriptions of two new genera and some new species of ... 79
"Psyche; organ of the Cambridge (Mass.) Entomological Club :" Ivevicw ... 44
Pulicideous insect ft-om Ceylon, Description of a new ... ... ... ... 2i6
Pyrausta puniccalis, Description of the larva, &c., of ... ... ... ... 66
Kare Tortricina ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 158
Re-occuiTcnce of Halonot a grandajvana at Hartlepool ... ... ... ... 85
„ „ Lemiodes pulvcralis at Folkestone ... ... ... ... 117
Kcscmblance to Ants among the Hemiptera, On the ... ... ... ... 138
Rhopaloccra from Africa, Note on ... ... ... ... ... .. 16
RutelidtB, On two new Coleopterous insects belonging to the family ... ... 52
Scarabajidic, Description of two new genera of ... .. ... ... ... 123
Shetland Isles, Notes on Beetles occurring in the ... .. ... ... 112
Smerinthus occllatus and S. populi. Hybrids between ... ... ... 116, 157
South London Entomological Society ... ... ... ... ... ... 190
Stridulating organs in the genus Loniaptera, Note c)n the ... ... ... i;{6
Stridulatioii of Coranus sid)uptcrus, Dc Geer, On the mode ul' ... ... 137
"Supplement to Harvesting-Ants and 'J'rap-door Spiders; by J. T. Mog-
gridge :" Review ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 189
Synonymy of Pleocoma staff, Schaufuss, On the ... ... ... ... 206
Syrichthus alveolus, Natuml history of ... ... ... ... ... ... 236
Taxon us equiscti, Fall., Note on a variety of ... ... ... ... ... 128
Tcnthrediiiida;, Additions to the British list (pf... ... ... 65,250
„ Notes 01! British, with doscriplion of a new species of Nemalus 107
(Termites), A brood of white-ants at Kew
"The Butterflies of North America; by W. II. Edwards:" Review " The Micrographic Dictionary ; Third Edition :" Eeview. ... Tineina observed in 1874, Notes on some
Tortrices, Notes on British 12,28,59,132,
Tortricina, Rare
Trigonurus, Description of three new species of
Typhoeus vulgaris, Localities for ...
Variety of Liodes humeralis. Note on a ..
Viviparous Chrysoinela, Observations on a
Walker, Death of Francis...
White-ants (Termites) at Kew, A brood of
Xylophasia lithoxylea and polyodon. Comparative descriptions of the larvrc
Zetterstedt, Death of Professor J. W.
PAGE
15
70
211
238
152, 191
158
204
.. 279
84
135, 156
.. 140
15
of 208
211
INDEX OF SUBJECTS NOTICED IN THE PROCEEDINGS OF THE ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF LONDON.
Abdera triguttata from Avicmore Agrotera nemoralis from Abbot's Wood Amara alpina from Inverness-shii'e
„ continua, Exhibition of Anniversary Meeting Anobium attacking printers' wood-blocks Apion Ryei from Shetland Argas pipistrella}
Boisduval's Sphingidrr, Critical remarks on
Brachycentrus subnubilus congregating on leaves of Symphytum Butterflies from Japan Calotermes bred at Kew ... Carpocapsa in a walnut Cathormiocerus maritimus from Portsea Cecidomyia on ash ... Cetoniidee, New species of Cheimatobia brumata. Notes on
Chrysotoxum festivum gynaiidromorphous. Correction of an error Cockchafers, Paint manufactured from .. Coffee-borer of Natal Coleoptcra from Japan
„ , Notes on Australian Colletes cunicularis successfully introduced at Shirley Colorado Potato-beetle, Notes on ... Deiopeia pulchell§, Reported capture of
„ from Arundel DianthcEcia albimacula bred at Portsea Diloba cicruleocephula, Variety of Enipu;sa pauperata ... ... ... • ...
|
PAGE |
|
... 190 |
|
93 |
|
... 94 |
|
239 |
|
... 239 |
|
161 |
|
... 190 |
|
93 |
|
... 281 |
|
45 |
|
... 94 |
|
69 |
|
... 94 |
|
93 |
|
... 94 |
|
94 |
|
... 213 |
|
45 |
|
... 240 |
|
69 |
|
... 94 |
|
162 |
|
... 240 |
|
283 |
|
69 |
|
... 161 |
|
93 |
|
... 212 |
|
... 69,280 |
EiuloiiivchitliP, New species of Fleas, Xotes on Galls on leaves of damson Halt ica irrat a destructive to roses ... llelota from Japan, Species of Hemiptera from the Mediterranean Hemiptera-Heteroptera, Synopsis of British lleteromera, New forms of
Hymenoptera, Descriptions of new species of Indian „ from Calcutta, Collections of...
„ : revision of the genera Cleptes, Parnopes, Pjria, &c. ...
Lamellicoms, Descriptions of Japanese
Lee's coloured specimens to illustrate the Nat. Hist, of Butterflies ... Lepidoptera, New species of Diurnal
„ New species of Diurnal, from Wliydah
Lepisma, Probable new species of ... Lipura cortieina in Britain Locust found at bottom of a well at Brighton Lomaptera Higijinsi from Borneo Longicom Coleoptera, Synonymic notes on ... Lyctena, New species of Lymexylon navale from Manchester Maeherium maritimum ?, Habits of Mantida; from Ceylon, recently hatclicd
„ „ Sarawak, recently hatched
^Mantis religiosa and its egg-cases from Meran
Meetings, Kcports of ... 45, G9, 93, IGl, 1(32, 190, 212, 239, 210, 280, 281, 282 Micro-Lepidoptera gregarious in the pupa state Monoliammus heros, Exliibition of living example of Niptus hololeucus damaging tea ... Noctua glareosa, Variety of ... Nola albulalis ... Nonagria brcvilinea .. Oak-galls, Exliibition of ...
Ornithoptera from the Malabar coast, Species of .. Papilio Nireus, Mimicry in pupa) of Pliylloxera vastatrix, Notes on Phytopliaga, New genera and species of Polistes gallica in Corfu, Habits of Pronuba yuecasella bred in England
I'seiapiiida? and Scydnuenidfc from Australia and New Zealand Pteropliorus rhododactylus bred ... Rluipalocera from Santarem ... Scenopinus, Habits of
Sinoxylon, Habits of a species of, from Burmah ... Snellen von Vollenhovcn, Medal struck in honour of ., Solenobia ineonspicuella, Probable variety of Spider's nest from France, A singular Strcnia clathrata, Variety of ... Terias, Question as to identity of three species of Vanessa lo. Arrested development in ... AV'estwoodia Ilowilli from Borneo ..
|
IX. |
|
I'AtJE |
|
94, 281 |
|
240, 280 |
|
... 93 |
|
9-i |
|
... 94 |
|
212 |
|
... 283 |
|
281 |
|
... 281 |
|
213, 240 |
|
... 69 |
|
282 |
|
... 94 |
|
69 |
|
... 162 |
|
280 |
|
... 281 |
|
282 |
|
... 190 |
|
212 |
|
... 162 |
|
190 |
|
... 94 |
|
282 |
|
... 213 |
|
161 |
|
281, 282 |
|
45 |
|
... 281 |
|
212 |
|
... 239 |
|
161 |
|
... 161 |
|
212 |
|
... 281 |
|
162 |
|
... 212 |
|
281 |
|
.. 240 |
|
94 |
|
... 162 |
|
161 |
|
... 239 |
|
94. |
|
... 45 |
|
45 |
|
... 45 |
|
162, 190 |
|
... 240 |
|
281 |
|
... 45 |
|
190 |
SPECIAL INDEX.
COLEOPTERA.
PAGE . 63
Abdera triguttata ...
Agabus maculatus, Scotch vars. ... 112, 135
Solieri ... ... ... ... 64
Agestrata Samson (sp. n.), Sharp ... 35
Agriotes sordidus ... ... ... ... 37
Amara alpina ... ... ... ... 64
coiitimia ... ... ... ... 207
Aphodius villosus ... ... ... ... 39
Apion opeticum 156
Ryei (sp. u.), Blackburn 128
Apotouius .xanthotohis (sp.n.), H. W. Bates 95
Aulacothoras e.xilis ... ... ... 137
Batrisus sibiricus (sp. n.), Sharp ... 82
Brachonyx indigcna ... ... ... 64
Brachyscapus (?) aiigolensis (sp. n.), Woll. 150
Brj'oporus rugipennis ... ... ... 64
Bythinus Crotchi (sp. n.), Sharp 81
Manueli „ „ 82
(Edipus „ „ 81
Cai-enidium sapphirinum (sp. u.), H. W.
Bates 99
Carenum breviforme (sp. n.) 96
planipetnie „ ... ... ... 97
porphyreum „ ... ... ... 95
subplanatura „ ... ... ... 96
Cetouia aurata, Late appearance of ... 208 Ceuthorhynchus contractus, var. pallipes 111 Chalastinus recticornis (sp. n.), H. W. Bates 275 Chalcoprionus (g. n.), H. W. Bates ... 273 Badeni (sp. n.), H. W. Bates 274 Chrysomola venusta, viviparous ... 135,156 Cocciiiolla, ovivorous ... ... ... 85
Coleopt era from South Morocco 213
Compsochilus palpalis ... ... ... 38
Corticaria WoUastoni Ill
Corynouialus taidifer (sp. n.), Gorham ... 181 Coscinia pictula (sp. n.), H. W. Bates ... 95 Cremastochilus crasMpos (sp. n.), West- wood ... ... ... ... ... 55
Crj-ptophagus parallelus 04
Cyanauges (g. u.), Gorhara 54
Gorhami (sp. n.), Lewis ... 55 C'ymindis Ilookeri „ 11. \V. Bates 217 (Jyrtotriplax cousobrina (sp. n.), Lewis ... 78 niponensis „ ,, ... 78
L)emelius (g. n.), C. 0. Watcrhousc semirugosus (sp. 11.), „ ... 1 )einnphoo — Hoplistocerus
Episcapha taishnensis (sp. ii)., Lewis ... 79
Eumorphus andamanensis „ Gorham ... 180
Eusthenomus (g. n.), H. W. Bates ... 277
Wallisi (sp. n.), H. W. Bates 278
Eutoma caviponiie (sp. n.), „ 99
Figulus interruptus „ C. 0. Waterhouse 7
nitens „ ,, ... 7
Gyiniietron lanuginosum(sp.n.),\Vollastoii 218
Gymuocerus Badeni (sp. n.), H. W. Bates 276
Harpalus latus, var. ii., metallescens, Rye 84
Heliciform case-maki)ig larva, ? Coleop- terous 239
Helophorus tuberculatus . . . 135, 235
Hopatrum Hookeri (sp. u.), Wollaston ... 219
Hoplistocerus dives „ H. W. Bates.. 276
Hj'droporus griseostriatus, var. ? from
Shetland 112
Hydroscapha Crotchi (sp. n.), Sharp ... 103
Hj'droscaphidje ... ... ... ... 101
Lagria hirta, Arrested development in ... 279
Lathridius rugosus ... ... ... 64
Lathrobium angusticolle at Llangollen ... 15
Liodes humeralis, var. globosa ... ... 84
Lomaptera, stridulating organs 136
Lucanus elaphus, deformity ... ... 32
Lycoperdiiiacastaiieipennis(sp.n.), Gorham 151
Meligethes, life-history 46,52
Melyrosoma Blackmorii (sp. n.), Wollaston 218
Millingenia (g. n.). Sharp 124
fossor (sp.u,), Sharp... ... 125
Mitophylus marmoratus (sp. n.), C. O.
Waterhouse 8
Monohammus sutor, imported ... ... 135
Nebria crassiceps (sp. n.), H. W. Bates ... 23
elliptipennis „ „ ... 22
Lewisi „ „ ... 22
Neocarenum cyliiidripenne (sp.n.), „ ... OS
vctusum „ „ ... 98
Onychoccriis auipliatus „ „ ... 277
Oxpoda cdinensis, Sharp ... ... ... 64
rupicola, Rye ... ... ... 64
Oziena brevicornis (sp. n.), W. W. Bates 24
magna ,, „ ... 23
Pachytelesaspericollis „ „ ... 27
fuliginellus „ „ ... 28
fusculus „ „ ... 26
goniaderus „ „ ... 25
peruvianus „ „ ... 26
setifer „ „ .. 25
sulcipennis ,, 27
tapajouus „ 2t>
PAGT?
riichytvidia, Artiiiitiesof 2
castanea, Hope ... ... 6
minor (sp. n.), Sharp ... 5
munda „ „ ... 3
pallens „ „ ... 4)
robusta „ „ ... 4
tccta „ „ ... 5
Pnt'derus fuscipes in profusion ... ... 38
Paivira liisjjida, var. ... ... .. 216
Peutavthnun Sharpiamim (sp. n.), Woll. 119 Phacelloci'va plagiata (sp. u.), H. W. Bates 275 Pimelia malleata ... „ ■ ,, 219
Plecoma "Staff" 200
Prismojinathus angularis (sp. u.), C. 0.
Watfrhouse ... ... ... 6
Psylliodes luiidipennis 112
Rhagium in dead trees 135
Rhizophagus politus in Scotland ... ... Gi
lUitda sanguinolenta (sp. n.), C. 0. Water- house ... ... ... ... ... 53
Putelarcha (g. n.), C. 0. Waterhouse ... 52
quadrimaculata (sp. n.), „ ... 53
Scarites atropis (sp. n.), H. W. Bates ... 178
insculptus „ „ ... 179
latcsulcatus „ „ . . 177
polypleurus „ „ ... 177
'p\inctuliger „ „ . . 178
Sopidulum bullatum (sp. n.), Sharp ... 2i9
, Lee, Affinities of 247
priscus (sp. n.), Sharp ... 250
trogoides „ „ 249
Stenus major ... ... ... ... 38
Tatrhyporus formosus in Kent ...' ... 38
Tmatidium (g. n.), H. \V. Bates 100
macros (sp. ii.), ,, ... ... 100
Tetracis (g. n.), Sharp 79
complex (sp. n.), Sharp .. ... 80
Thyaniis agilis, Rye ... ... ... 38
Timarcha coriaria, Arrested di'vclopment
in 279
Tolisus (g. n.), Sharp ... ... 125
a'neus (sp. n.), Shai-p ... ... 126
minor „ „ ... ... 126
loxicnm triconuitum (sp. n.), C. 0.
Waterhousc 126
Trigonurus Edwardsi (sp. n.), Sliarp ... 205 Lecontus „ „ ... 205
rugosus „ „ ., 2M-li
Treclms lapidosus in Shetland 112
Tiogaster (g. n.), Sharp ... ... 83
aberrans (sp. n.), Sharp 83
Typh:."'us vulgaris -!79
Xantholinub lentu.- 61
DIPTERA.
Anthomyia
Antliomyiida;, British
Asphondylia ulicis, Traill, redeficr
Azclia
CaricEEa
Chortophila ...
Urynieia
Er3'phia
Homalomyia
Hydrophoria
Hydrotffia
Hyetodesia ...
Ilylemyia
Lasiops
Limnophora
Lispa
Myda;a
Onodontha ... Ophyra Polietes Spilogaster ...
VAGE
223
199, 220 ibed ... 224
222
224
223
221
223
222
221
221
203
223
221
222
223
220
221
222
203
220
(APHANIPTERA).
Sarcopsvllus gallinaceus (sp. n.). West- wood 2-16
HEMIPTERA-HETEROPTEHA. Acalypta, Westwood (Orthostira, Fieb.) 185 Acanthosoma griseuni, On the egg-laying of 42
J51ia acuminata, Locality for 208
Allocotus rubidus ... 146
var. ^iloncreaffi ... ... 147
Aphelochcirus ajstivalis. Capture of 16,92, 117 Atractotomus ? obscurellus ... 234,235
Borytus minor ... ... ... ... 184
Signoreti? 233,234,255
Bugs, domestic, Reputed cure for 91
Cainpylostira vcriia ... 233,235,255
Ceratocombus colcoptratus Conostethus saliims
Coraiuis subaptcrus, Mode of stridulatioi of
186 185
137
... 62
... 117
... 184
... 265
233, 234
lleniiptera, British, captures on W. coast
of Scotland 118
Memoranda for resi- dents and tourists 41
Notes on ... 232,234
Cymus melanocephalus Dura;ocoris fornicatua Drymud pilicornis ... Eremocoris podagricus Geotomus puuctulatus
PAGK
llemiptera, Britisli, Resenihlanco to ants
amoiij^ ... .. 138
Synonymic notes on 185
Hypnobius vice Hypnophilus ... ... 185
Lampi-oplax piceus ... ... ... 184
Litosoma bicolor ... ... ... ... 185
Douglasi (sp. n.), Saunders ... 63
Macrocoleus Hardy i ... ... ... 185
Nabis cricetorum ... ... ... ... 186
pilosulus ... ... ... ... 186
Notocliilus limbatua ... ... ... 265
^Nysius brunneus ... ... ... ... 233
maculatus, Capture of 118
Orthostira macrophtliahna and nigrina 173,
232, 234
Pacbymcrus, name revived ... ... 185
Peritrecbus nubilus ... ... ... 267
puncticeps ... ... ... 267
Phytocoris marmoratus or tilia; ? 233, 235, 255
pini 144
Piezostethus cursitans 185
formicetornm ... ... 174
Psallus dilutus or alui ? ... 23 1, 235, 255
Ilhyparocbromus cbiragra var. nigricornis 267
sabulicola 266
Salda versus Acanthia 186
fucicola 143
marginella ... ... ... ... 142
opacula ... ... ... ... 9
palustris (sp. n.), Douglas 10
vestita „ „ ... ... 11
Scolopostethus adjunctus 264
affinis 263
ericetorum 264
Stetbotropis incana 184
Teratocoris Sauiidersi ... ... ... 185
Tinicepbalus obsolctus ... 234,235,255
'I'yttbus insignia ... ... ... ... 185
HEMIPTERA-HOMOPTEKA.
Athysanus Yerralli (sp. n.), Scott ... 263
Cicada gigas, On the babits of 175
Cicadula, Revision of the genus 229
frontalis (sp. u.), Scott ...231
septemnotata ... ... ... 231
sexnotata 230
variata ... ... ... ... 231
Doratura stylata ... ... ... ... 148
Eupteryx abrotani (sp. n.), Douglas ... 118
Idiocerus Hcydeni 228
Liburnia Putoni (sp. n.), Scott 119
Strongylocepbalus, Revision of the genus 120
agrestis 121
Megerlei (sp. n.), Scott 122
Typblocyljida-, Notes on ... 198
HYMENOFIERA.
|
Apbilothrix albipunctata ... |
PAGE ... 110 |
|
|
callidoma |
... no |
|
|
globuli |
... 110 |
|
|
Cerapbron pallipes ... |
... 39 |
|
|
Cladius, British spe.:ies |
of |
... 253 |
|
Ctcnoneura Dablbomi |
... 108 |
|
|
Cosmocoma fuscipes |
... 39 |
|
|
C3'nips lignicola, int|ui |
ines |
... 39 |
|
Decatomus biguttatus |
... 39 |
|
|
Dineura Degeeri |
... 251 |
|
|
fuscuk |
... 253 |
|
|
parvula |
... 252 |
selandriiformis (sp. n.), Cameron 252
stilata 251
testaceipes ... ... ... 251
verna ... ... ... ... 252
Dryocosmus cerriphilus ... ... ... 109
Emphytus lepidus, Kl., Synonymy of ... 255 Euiscia, Thoms., Synonymy of ... ... 255
Eriocampa testaceipes (sp. n.), Cameron 128 Ilyperba'us seminulum ... ... ... 39
Mymar taprobanicus (sp. u.), A. 0. Ward 197
Nematus alnivorus „ Cameron ... 107
histrio ... ... ... ... 65
Perineura viridis, L., Sj'nonomy of . ... 255
Phyllotoma tenella, Zadd., Synonomy of 255 Precilosoma excisum ... ... ... 254
guttatum ... ... ... 254
subnuiticum ... ... ... 254
Prosacantha bracbyptera? ... ... 39
pedestris ... ... ... 39
Selandria grandis ... ... ... ... 65
Strongylogaster femoralis (sp. n.), Cameron 250 Taxonus equiseti, vai\ ... ... ... 129
glabratus 108
Thoron metallicus ... ... ... ... 39
Trichiosoma, British species of 253
LEPIDOPTERA.
Abisara Tlutherfordi (sp. n.), Hewitson ... 56
Ablabia pratana ... ... ... ... 29
Acidalia emutaria ... ... ... ... 68
rusticata ... ... ... ... 63
st ram in at a. Larva of ... ... 116
Acraea Oppidia (sp. n.), Hewitson ... 131
Orestia „ „ 131
Oreta „ „ 131
Orina „ „ ... ... 131
Vinidia „ „ 130
Acronycta alni ... ... ... ... 158
Adolias Cenespolis (sp. n.), Hewitson ... 183 Agrotis subrosea, Larva of ... 65,89
|
XUI. |
|||
|
PAGE |
PAOK |
||
|
Amblypodia japoiiica (sp. n.), Murray |
... 170 |
Elachista serricornis |
... 85 |
|
Anerastia lotella, Larva of |
... 186 |
Emmelcsia unifasciata |
... 140 |
|
Aplocta occulta |
139, 157 |
Endopisa nigricana |
... 85 |
|
Argynnis Atlantis ... |
... 245 |
Epbestia elutella |
... 269 |
|
Cbariclca |
... 245 |
ficclla |
... 270 |
|
Fivja |
... 245 |
ficulella (sp. n.), Barrett |
... 271 |
|
palli'sceiis |
... 170 |
||
|
Argyridia dipoltella |
... 19G |
passulella „ „ |
... 271 |
|
Argyrolepia uMieana |
... 132 |
semirufa |
... 270 |
|
badiana |
... 134 |
Erastria fuscula, Larva of |
... 66 |
|
Baumaiiiiiana |
... 133 |
Eresia Cocla (sp. n.), Druce |
... 37 |
|
enicana |
... 134 |
Eutropia „ Hewitson ... |
... 56 |
|
dubiisana |
... 134 |
Ergolis Actisanes |
... 183 |
|
maritiinana |
... 134 |
Eriopsela fractifasciana |
... 132 |
|
Mussebliana ... |
... 133 |
||
|
Scbrebersiana |
... 132 |
quadrana |
... 132 |
|
subbauinanniana |
... 133 |
Eubolia lineolata |
... 16 |
|
Astbena Bloiiieraria, Larva of ... |
... 87 |
Eucbromia Branderiana ... |
... 30 |
|
Boarmia roboraria, Larva of |
... 40 |
ericetana |
... 30 |
|
Bombyx rubi |
... 188 |
fulvipunctaua |
... 29 |
|
Botys nubilalis (lupuliualis) |
... 256 |
purpurana |
... 29 |
|
Calliodes rubropicta (sp. n.), Butler |
... 77 |
rufaua |
... 30 |
|
Calosetia nigromaculaiia |
... 134 |
Eucyane egaensis (sp. n.), Butler... |
... 77 |
|
Carpocapsa fuuebiaiia |
... 13 |
Eudoreacoarctalis ... |
... 19 |
|
grossaua Juliana |
... 13 ... 13 |
Eupitbecia expallidata |
... 16 |
|
nimbana |
... 12 |
Eupuecilia albicapitana |
... 152 |
|
poinonella |
... 13 |
ainbiguella |
... 153 |
|
Catoptria a.spidiscana |
... 19 |
angustana |
... 154 |
|
Cemiostoina Wailesulla |
... 238 |
antbcmidana |
... 194 |
|
Charaxes Epbyra |
... 57 |
atricapitana |
... 152 |
|
Chioiiobas Taygete |
... 245 |
carduana |
... 153 |
|
Cbrosis Audouinana |
... 132 |
curvistrigana ... |
... 154 |
|
tesserana |
... 132 |
Degreyana |
... 195 |
|
Chrysoplianus Tiuieus |
... 167 |
dubitana |
... 152 |
|
Cnephasia cinctaua... |
... 28 |
flaviciliana |
... 194 |
|
liybridana |
... 28 |
Geyeriaua |
... 191 |
|
CiEnonympba inornata |
... 215 |
griseana |
... 155 |
|
Colias Hyale |
... 166 |
Heydeniana |
... 194 |
|
Coriscium Brongniardellum |
... 117 |
niaculoaiia ... |
... 152 |
|
Cosinopteryx Scribaiella bred |
... 18 |
Maimiana |
... 192 |
|
Crainbus verellus ... |
... 117 |
liana ... |
... 153 |
|
Crymodes exulis |
... 85 |
iiotulaiia |
... 154 |
|
Daiinio Tcthys |
... 171 |
ruliciliana |
... 195 |
|
Danais exprompta (sp. n.), Butler |
... 163 |
rupicola |
... 193 |
|
luucoptera „ ,, ••• |
... 163 |
sodaliana |
... 153 |
|
microsticta „ » •■• |
... 163 |
subroseana |
... 194 |
|
scptcntrionis „ ,, ■■• |
... 163 |
||
|
udana |
155, 191 |
||
|
vulgaris „ ,, ... |
... 104 |
Vectisana |
... 193 |
|
Di'ilcpbila t'Upborbia', Larva of ... |
... 73 |
||
|
Deiopeia pulcbcUa |
157,210 |
Goiiopteryx rhainni, IL.'rniapbrodite |
... 113 |
|
Depressaria Yeatiana brcil |
... 157 |
Grapbolita citrana ... |
... 16 |
|
Deudorix Siinsoiii (sp. n.), Miskin |
... 165 |
grandiL'vana ... |
... 211 |
|
Diantluucia albimacula, Larva of... |
... 16 |
inicrograuiuiana |
... 14 |
|
Dipbtliora Orion |
... 159 |
ulicc'taiia |
... 13 |
|
Dipsa-i Attilia |
... 16d |
Wimmeraiia ... |
... 14 |
|
japonica (sp. n.), Murray... |
... 169 |
Hirtoropsis Drepana (sp. ii.), Hewitson 227 |
|
|
orieutali.i „ „ |
... 169 |
Ilalonota grandievana |
85,211 |
Harma Amenides (sp. ii.), Ilewitson Heliconia Gyna-sia „ „ ■■■
Longarena „ >, ■•■
Heliotliis dipsacea, Larva of lolaus Cytajis (sp. n.), Hewitson Larentia olivata, Larva of... Laverna epilobiella Lemiodes pulveralis
Libythea Lcpita
Liphyra Vininga (sp. n.), Hewitson Lithocolletis viininiella ... Lobesia i-eliqiiana ... Lozopcra alternana dilucidaua Francillana Smeatbrnaniiiana
straminea
Lycajna Adonis, Larva of...
Aquilo
Argia
Couperi
japouica (sp. n.), Murray
Ladouides
Lucia
Lycormas...
Lyrnessa (sp. n.), Hewitson
Prycri
Scudderi ... Lygris reticulata ... Melaiiitis Masoura (sp. n.), Hewitson Melissoblaptes ccphalonica Mesoseniia Ceropia (sp. n.), Drucc ' Micros,' European, away from home
Mixodia Schulziaua
Morpho Godarti Myelois cin-igerclla Neptis aceris
Nepbopteryx gcnistollus ... Noctua festiva
„ rubi, Larva of
„ sobrina
„ subrosea, Larva of
Nola albulalis
„ cristulalis Nonagria brevilinea Opostega salaciella... Opsipbanes Bogotanus (sp. n.), Distant Ortliotaniia antiquana
Pachnobia alpina
Parapbila Dara
„ pellucida (sp. n.), Murray „ varia „ „
'vitrea „ ,,
|
PARE |
VA.r,F. |
|
|
. 56 |
Panopea protracta (sp. n.), Butler |
... 164 |
|
. 182 1 |
Papilio Alcinous |
... 166 |
|
. 182 |
„ Antimacbus |
16, 113 |
|
. 256 |
„ brevicauda ... |
.. 244 |
|
. 182 |
„ Dehaaui |
... 166 |
|
. 86 |
„ Lormieri (sp. n.), Distant |
... 129 |
|
. 238 |
„ Mangoura „ Hewitson |
... 226 |
|
. 117 |
„ Sadyattes „ Druce ... |
... 36 |
|
.. 170 |
„ Sarpedon |
... 166 |
|
.. 183 |
„ Turnus |
244, 258 |
|
.. 238 |
Parnassius glacialis |
... 166 |
|
62,90 |
Pbtlieocbroa rugosana |
... 132 |
|
.. 196 |
Pliycis Davisellus |
... 211 |
|
.. 196 |
Pieris oleracea |
... 244 |
|
.. 196 |
Pseudacraia Boisduvalii |
... 57 |
|
.. 196 |
„ striata |
... 57 |
|
.. 196 |
„ Trimeni (sp. n.), Butler |
... 57 |
|
.. 113 |
Pseudodipsas innotatus (sp. n.), Misk |
in... 165 |
|
.. 246 |
Pteropborus rbododactylus |
... 69 |
|
.. 167 .. 254 .. 168 |
Pyrameis cardui |
... 245 |
|
Pyrausta punicealis. Larva of |
... 66 |
|
|
.. 168 |
Rhomaleosoma sarcoptera |
... 57 |
|
.. 246 |
Satsuma ferrea |
... 168 |
|
... 168 |
Sericoris alternana |
... 69 |
|
... 107 |
„ bifasciana |
... 62 |
|
... 168 |
„ cespitana |
... 61 |
|
... 245 |
„ concbana |
... 30 |
|
... 139 |
„ Doubledayaua ... |
... 61 |
|
... 227 |
„ eupborbiana |
... 61 |
|
... 272 |
„ fuligana |
... 61 |
|
... 37 |
„ herbana |
... 31 |
|
... 279 |
„ irriguana |
... 59 |
|
... 62 |
„ lacunana |
... 30 |
|
... 65 |
„ latifasciana |
... 62 |
|
... 237 |
„ littoralis |
... 61 |
|
... 170 |
„ micana |
... 59 |
|
... 211 |
„ politana |
... 61 |
|
... 139 |
„ vupestrana |
... 31 |
|
... 210 |
Smerinthus ocellatus |
116, 157 |
|
89, 116 |
„ populi |
116, 157 |
|
65,89 .. 68 |
Spbaleroptera ictericana Sterrba sacraria |
... 15 ... 158 |
|
. 19 |
Syricbtbus alveolus. Larva of |
... 236 |
|
... 211 |
Terias Brenda |
... 167 |
|
... 85 |
„ lajta |
... 166 |
|
. ... 203 ... 30 |
Tbecla Chonida (sp. v.), Hewitson |
... 105 |
|
„ Critola „ „ |
... 105 |
|
|
... 89 ... 171 ... 172 ... 172 |
„ Cypbara „ ,, „ Cyrriaua „ „ |
... 106 ... 105 |
|
„ Matbewi „ » |
... 106 |
|
|
.. 171 |
„ fuadrimaculata „ |
... 106 |
|
PAGE |
|
|
Tliecla Sedecia (sp. ii.), Hewitsoii |
... 105 |
|
Tischeria angusticollella . . . |
238 |
|
„ dodon.Ta ... |
238 |
|
Vanessa Antiopa |
245 |
|
„ comma |
245 |
|
„ Glaucoma |
170 |
|
I\Iill)erti |
245 |
|
Xylophasia lithoxylea, Larva of |
208 |
|
„ polyodon „ „ |
208 |
NEUROPTERA fin the Linnean sense).
PAOR
./Enallagma boreale (sp. n.), Selys . . . 242
iEschiia clepsydra ... ... ... ... 242
hudsouica (sp. n.), Selys .. ... 242
Calotermes sp. ?, bred at Kew 15
Chrj'sopa, Odours of
tenella at Weybridge ... ... 65
Cordulia Sliurtleffi 241
Epitlieca cingulata... ... ... ... 241
forcipata 241
Holicopsj'che cases from Sikkiui ... ... 239
Leucorrhiuia Imdsouica ... ... ... 241
INDEX TO CONTEIBUTORS.
Barrett, C. G. 12, 28, 59, 132, Bates, H. W., F.L.S. 22, 95,
Berg, Carl
Blackall, W
Blackburn, J. B
Blackburn, Rev. T.,B. A....
Blackmore, T
Bleuze, L
Briggs, C. A
Brown, Rev. J. Landy, M.A.
Buckler, W 16,73,
Butler, A. G., F.L.S
Cameron, P., Jun
Carrington, J. T
Chambers, V.T
Champion, G. C
Chappoll, J
Cooke, N
Distant, \V. L
Doubloday, II
Douglas, J. W.. 1,9, 41,90, 144, 173,
Druce, H., P'.L.S
Fitch, E. A
Fletcher, J. E
Forbes, W. A
Gardner, J
Gorbam, Rev. H. S
Goss, H
Hellins, Rev. J., M.A. ...
Iluwitson, W. C, F.L.S. ...
Ilodgkinsoii. .J. IJ.
PARE
152, 191, 256, 269
177, 217, 244, 273
67
210
... 116, 139, 157
... 112, 128, 135
213
235
157
92, 117
186, 188, 208, 256
... 57,77,163
65, 107, 128, 250
89, 158
279
63, 64
15
85
129,203
... 89,90,211
118,137,138,142, lal, 198, 234, 203
36
109
85,238
208,279
85, 135
... 54, 151, 180
113
16, .40, 42, 66, 86, 113,236
16, 36, 56, 65, 104, 118, 130, 182, 221}
19
Jones, A. H
Knaggs, H. G., M.D., F.L.S. ...
Knaggs, H. V
Lewis, G
Llewelyn, J. T. D., M.A., F.L.S.
Lockyer, B
McLachlan, R., F.L.S. ... 15, 65, 92, 138, 159, 239
PAGE
... 139 ... 1
... 117 54, 78 ... 158 ... 158
Matbew, G. F., R.N., F.L.S
Meade, R. H
Meyrick, E
Miskin, W. H ...
Murray, Rev. R. P., M.A....
Norman, G
Ormerod, Eleanor A
Porritt, G. T., F.L.S
Ryo, E. C, F.Z.S
Saunders, E., F.L.S
Scott, J
175
199,220
237
165
166
258
46
68, 116, 157, 210
84, 135, 158, 207
... 02,232,255
117, 119, 120, 144. 147, 173, 184, 228, 229, 235, 268
Selys-Longcbanips, Baron E. de 241
Sharp, 1)., iM.n....2, 35, 79, 101, 123, 1.36, 137, 204, 200, 247
Smith, F.
Stainton, II. T., F.R.S.
Ullyett, II
Verrall, G. H
Walker, J. J
Ward, A. O
Waterhouso, CO. Weston, W. P
Ill
18,157
210
224
37
. ... 39, 197 279 0, 39, 52, 120, 127 117
Westwood, J. 0., M.A., F.L.S...,10,32,55,240
Wilkinson, T 235
Wollaston, T. V., M.A., F.L.S. . 149, 218
LIST OF NEW GEXERA AN IN THIS
COLEOPTERA. GENERA.
PAGE
CiTALCOPEiONUS, if. W. Bates 273
Gy K's KVOT.S, Gorham 54
Demelius, C. O. Waterliouse 127
EusTnENOMtrs, iZ". W.Bates 277
MiLLiNGENiA, SAar^ 124
EuTELAECHA, C O. Waterliotise 52
Tehatidium, S. W. Bates 100
Teteacis, S/;arp 79
ToLisus, „ 125
Teogastee „ 83
SPECIES.
Agestrata Samson, Sharp, Silhet 35
Apion Rj'ei, Blackhnrti, Slietland 128
Apotomus xanthotelus, S. W. Bates,
Celebes 95 Batrisus sibiricus, iS/<rt>7), /S/6<?r/a 82
Brachyscapus (?) angolensis, Wollaston,
Angola 150
Bjthinus Crotchi, S/tarp, Ueyraosa 81
Mamieli, „ Savoy 82
(Edipus, „ Reynosa 81
Carenidiuin sapphirinum, H. W. Bates,
W. Australia 99 Careinim breviforme, S. W. Bates,
W. Australia 96
plaiiiponne, „ „ 97
porpliyrt'um, „ „ 95
subplaiiatum, „ „ 96
Chalastiuus recticoniis, S. W. Bates,
Siuifarem 275 Chalcoprionus Baduni, H. W. Bates,
N. Go-anada 274 Cor}'nomalus taxlifur, Gorhani, Peru 181
Coscinia pictula, H. W. Bates, Mesopo- tamia 95 Cremastochilus crassipes, Westwood,
California 55 Cyanauges Gorhami, G. Lewis, Japan ... 65 Cyiniiidis Hookeri, H. If. Bates, Atlas.. 217 C3'rtotriplax consobrina, G. Lewis, Japan 78 iiiponensis, „ Irlcvt.'ik 78
Demelius semirugosus, C. O. IVaterJiouse,
Queensland 127 Dorcus binodulosus, C. O. Waterhonse,
Japan 6 Episcapha taishoeiisis, G. Letcis, Chiosan 79 Eumorphus andamaneusis, Gorham,
Andaman I. 180 Eusthenomus Wallisi, M. W. Bates,
N. Granada 278 Eutoma cavipenue, H. W. Bates,
jr. Australia 99
D SPECIES, VOLUME.
&c., DESCRIBED
PAGE
Figulus iuteiTuptus, C. O. Waterliouse,
In'lia 7 nitens, „ N. S. Wales 7
Gj'miietroiilanuginosum, TFbMas^o»,^f?as 218 Gymnocerus Badeni, IT. W. Bates,
N. Granada 276 Hopatrura Hookeri, Wollaston, Atlas ... 219 Hoplistocerus dives, S. W. Bates, Bahia 276
Hydroscapha Crotchi, S/iarjJ, <Sj)am 103
Ljxoperdiua castaneipennis, Gorham,
Japan 151 Melyrosoma Blackmorii, Wollaston,
■ Mogador 218
Milliiigenia fossor, iS7;fl>7), JE[(7;/p^ 125
Mitophyllus marmoratus, C. O. Water- house, Neio Zealand 8 Nebria crassiceps, S. W. Bates, Kurdistan 23 elliptipeunis, „ „ 22
Lewisi, „ Japan ... 22
Neocarenum cylindripenne, S. W. Bates,
Australia 98 vetmum, H.W.Bates, „ 98
Onychocerus ampliatus, S. W. Bates,
Peru, Equador 277
Ozajna brevicornis,
magna, Pacby teles aspericollis,
fuliginellus,
fusculus,
Peru 23
Amazons .. 23
.. 27
28
26
„ 25
Peru 26
F.qttador... 25
:&(/« 27
Am.azons .. 26
Nicaragua Ega
goniadevus, peruviaims, setifer, sulcipennis, tapajoims, •
Pacby tricha minor, Sha7-p, Australia ... 5 munda, „ „ ... 3
pallens, „ „ ... 4
robusta, „ „ ... 4
tecta, „ „ ... 5
Pentarthrum Sbarpianum, Wollaston,
Kew Zealand 149
Pbacellocera plagiata, S. W. Bates,
1'uiramagtias 275
Pimelia malleata, 7f o^/as^o>i, .4^Zas 219
Prismognatlius angularis, C. O. Water- house, Japan 6 Psc'lapbus Saulcyi, S/mrp, l?ej/»0S(i 80
Rutela sanguinolenta, C. O. Waterhonse,
Kew Granadu 53
Rutelarclia quadrimaculata, Sharp,
Penang ? 53
Scarites atropis, H. W. Bates, Caffraria. 178
insculptus, „ Bahia ... 179
latesulcatus, „ Caffraria. 177
polypleurus, „ „ 177
• punctuliger, „ S. Africa. 178
PAOE
Si-piMulum Imllatum, Sharp, InUa 249
])risfus[-cuni] „ Queensland 250 trogoides, „ ? S.America 249
Teiati<lium macros, H. W. Bates, Xicol
Bay 100
Tetracis complex, SAarp, Tangiers 80
Tolisiis aineus, „ Jechiah 126
minor, „ AJmere 126
Toxicum triconiutuin, C. O. Waterhonse,
Japan 126
Trigonurus Edwardsi, Sharp, California. 205 Lecoutus, „ „ 205
rujrosus, ,, „ 204
Trogaster aberraiis, „ Corsica ... 83
Harpalus latus, var. n. metallescens. Bye,
England 84
DIPTERA (APHANIPTERA). Sarcopsj'Uus gfi[\\nace\xs,Westwood,Cei/lon 246
HEMIPTERA-HETEROPTERA.
Litosoma Douglasi, E. Saunders, England 63
Salda palustris, Douglas, England 10
vestita, ,, ,, 11
HliyP'i''ocliromus cliiragra, F., var. n. iii-
griconiis, Douglas, England 267
HEMIPTERA-HOMOPTERA.
Ai\^yiAnnh WtivyaWi, Scott, England 268
Cicadula frontalis, „ „ 231
Eupteryx abrotani, X)oHf/?rtS, „ 118
Lilmrnia Putoni, Scott, Algeria 119
Strongylocephalus Megerlei, Scott,
England 122
HYMENOPTERA.
Dineura selandriiformis, Cameron,
England 252 Eriocanipa testaceipos, „ Scotland 128
Myinar taprobanicus, A. O. Ward, Ceylon 197 Nematus alnivoriis, Cameron, Scotland... 107 Strongylogastor femoraliH, ,, ,, ... 250
LEPIDOPTERA. OEKETIA.
T>K\'!iio, E. P. Murray 171
Satscma, „ 168
SPECIES.
Abisara Rutherfordi, TIeivitsnn, W. Africa 56
Acr.'va Oppidia, Uewitson, Fernando Bo.. 131
Orestia, „ „ 131
Oreta, „ „ 131
Orin.^, ., „ 130
Viuidia ,, Aiiqoht 130
I'AfJR
Adiilia*! Ceiiespolis. JTcwifson, Borneo ... 183 Aniblypodia japonica, B.P .Murray , Japan 170 Calliodes rubropicta, But'er, Moreton Bay 77
Daiiais exprompta, „ Ceylon 164
loucoptera, „ Dorey 163
inicrosticta, „ Borneo 163
septontrionLs, „ India 163
vulgaris, „ Nepal 164
Deudorix Simsoni, Miskin, Queensland... 165
Dipsas japonica, R. P. Murray, Japan... ICO
orieiitalis, „ ,, ••■ 169
Epliestia ficuloUa, Barrett, Englanl 271
passululla „ „ 271
Eresia Coela, Druce, Costa Rica 37
Eutropia, Uewitson, Panama 56
Ergolis Actisanes, „ Gaboon 183
Euoyane egaensis, Butler, Ega 77
Hieteropsis Drepaua, Hewitson, Mada- gascar 227 Harma Amenides, „ Gaboon... 56
Ileliconia Gyuassia, „ locality
unknown 182 Longarena, „ New
Granada 182 lolaus Cyt;«is, „ Fernando
Po 182 Lii)hyra Vininga, „ „ 183
Liptena Adelgitha, „ Gaboon... 36
Lyca;ua japonica, R. P. Murray, Japan.. 167
Lyrnessa, Hewitson, Chili 107
LycKnestlies Lyzanius, „ Old Calabar 36 Mclaiiitis Masoura, ,, Madagascar 227 Mesosemia Ceropia, 2)ri<c<?, Costa Rica... 37 Opsiphanes bogotanus, Distant, Bogota.. 203 Pamphila pellucida, R. P. Murray, Japan 172 varia, „ , „ 172
vitrea, „ „ 171
l'ano\)ea.'protvactR, Butler, Calimla 164
Papilio Lormieri, Distant, Madagascar... 129 'M&ugoiira, Uewitson, „ ... 226 Sadyattes, Druce, Costa Rica ... 36
Pseudacrfea Trimeni, Butler, Natal 57
IVeudodipsas innotatus, Mi.il.in, Queens- land 165
Tlipcla Chonida, Jfeivitson, Me.rico 105
Critola, ,, „ ... 105
Cypbara, ,, Pauama... loO
Cyrriana, „ Peru 105
Matlifwi, „ Me.vico lOC)
fjuadrimaculata, ,, C/iili 106
Sedfcia „ Me.rico 105
NKUUOPTEHA. yEnallagina boronlc, Selys, Ncwfouii. Hand 242 ^Esclnia liiuUoiiica. „ „ 242
ADDITIONS TO THE BRITISH INSECT FAUNA BROUGHT FORWARD IN THIS VOLUME.
COLEOPTERA.
PAGE
Abdera triguttata, (?-^W 63
Ainara contiiiua, Thorns 207
Apion opcticura, Bac/i 156
R^'ei (sp. n.), Blackburn 128
Harpalus latus, var. n. metallescens, B>/e 84 Helophoi'us tuberculatus, Ch/ll 135, 235
HEiMIPTERA-HETEROPTERA.
GEKUS.
Allocotvs, Futon 146
SPECIES.
Allocotus rubidus, Futon 146
Cymus melanocephalus, Fieh 62
Litosoma Douglasi (sp. n.), Saunders 63
Oi'thostiia macroplithalma, Fieb 173
Piiritrecbus nubilus, Fall., Thorns 266
Ph5'tocoris piiii, Xirsc/ii 144
Piezostetbus forniicetoruTn, Boh 174
Rhyparochromus cbiragra, F., var. n. ni-
gricovuis, Douglas 267
sabulicola, r/iOMts 265
Salda fiicicola, .r. Sn7ii6 143
marginella, Fieb 142
opacula, Zett 9
palustris (sp. u.), Douglas 10
vestita (sp. n.), „ 11
Scolopostethus ericetorum, Leth 264
HEMIPTERA-HOMOPTERA.
PARE
Ath 3'sanus Verralli (sp. n.), Scofi 268
Cicadula frontalis „ „ 231
Eupteryx abrotani „ Douglas 118
Idiocerus Heydeni, Kirschb 228
Strongylocepbalus Megerlei (sp. u.), Scott 122
HYMENOPTERA.
Apbilothrix albipunctata, Sc/(? 110
callidoma, Htg 110
Ceraphron pallipes 39
Dineura selandriiformis (sp. n.), Cameron 252
stibita, King 65, 251
testaceipes, TLlug 251
Dryocomus cerripbilus, (?ir 109
Eriocampa testaceipes (sp. n.), Cameron... 128 Nematusalnivorus, sp. u. (Stg.), Cameron 107
histrio, iep 65
Poecilosoma excisum. Thorns 254
guttatum. Fall 254
subrauticum, TAows 254
Selandria grandis, Zadd 65
Strougylogasterfemoralis(sp.:))., Cameron 250
LEPIDOPTERA.
Epbestia ficulella (sp. n.), Barrett 271
„ passulella „ „ 271
Myelois cirrigerella, Z^ 237
LARViE OF BRITISH SPECIES DESCRIBED IN THIS
VOLUME.
LEPIDOPTERA. Acidalia straminata, G. T. Porritt • Agrotis subrosea, Berg (transl.J „ „ H. Dotibleday
Anerastia lotella, W. Buckler - Asthena Blomeraria, Rev. J. Hellms Boarmia roboraria, ,,
Deilcphila cupborbiaD, W. Buckler - Diantboecia albimacula „
Erastria fuscula, Eev. J. Hellins Heliotbis dipsacea, W. Buckler Larentia olivata, Rev. J. Hellins Lycffina Adonis, „
Noctua rubi, G. f. Porritt - - . .
Pyrausta punieealis. Rev. J. Hellins Syriobtbus alvi'ohis, ,, - - -
Xylopbasirf lilboxylea, ir. Buckler
polyodou, 7, • - -
PAGE
116
67
89
186
88
40
73
17
66
256
86
113
210
66
237
209
209
R ]<: V I K W 8.
PAGE
•13
" Fiiuiia !i:id Flura of Norfolk, part v, Lepidoptera." — C. 0. Barrett -
" Insects Abroad."— Rev. J. G. Wood ----- 159
" Xoiuenclator Zoologieus." — Count Aug. von Marsehall - - - -l-i
" On the Transformations of the common House-fly." — A. S. Packard,
Jun:, M.D. -------- 93
" Psyche :" edited by B. P. Mann ------ 44
SuppkMnent to " Harvesting- Ants and Trap-Door Spiders." — J. T. IMog-
gridge, F.L.S. .-.-.-- 189
" The Butterflies of N. America." — W. H. Edwards - - - - 70
" The Mierographic Dictionary " ..---- 211
0 B I T U A K Y.
Bold, T. J. 20
Crotch, Q. R., M.A. 70
Dorville, H. - - - - - - - - - IGO
Gray, Dr. J. E., F.R.S., &c. 262
Herrich-Schiiffer, Dr. -------- 20
Keeley, R. G. 70
Lello,W. 141
Moggridge, J. T., F.L.S., F.Z.S. ------ 187
Walker, F. - - - - - - ■ - - 140
Zettorstedt, Prof. J. W. - - - - - - - 211
WO 0 D-C U Tl?.
Lucanus claplms, deformity ...... 34,
Mcligethes : eggs, &c. -------- 50
larva .-.-..- 51
ERRATA.
Page 107, lino 23 from top, fur "Above these " read " Above, (lion'. „ „ 30 „ „ „ " ? " read " ^ ." „ 1G8, „ 17 „ „ „ " post ice" read " postica." „ 175, „ 6 „ „ „ " Tobago " read " Taboga." „ 206, „ 7 „ „ „ " least " read " best." ,, „ „ 3 „ bottom, /or " adjumns" 7'erto? "adjuvans." „ 207, lines 2 and 16 from top,/or " adjurana " read " adjuvans. ,, 251, line 18 from to]), /or " liomichroa " read " ncmiohroa."
THE ^o^
Or
ENTOMOLOGIST'S MONTHLY MAGAZINE:
CONDUCTED BY
J. ^V. DOUGLAS. E. C. RYE, F.Z.S.
E. McLACHLAN, F.L.S. 11. T. STAINTON, F.E.S.
VOL. XII.
There's no/Jiiii//, situate tmder heavens et/e, hut hath its bound.''
SlIAKSPEARK.
L O N ]) O N : JOHN VAN VOORST, 1, PATEKNOSTER ROW,
1 8 7r,-r..
L O N I) O X :
NAPIEE, PEINTEE, SEYMOUR STREET, EUSTOX SQUARE, N.W.
MDCCCLXXVI.
INDEX.
PAOB
Gekeral Isdex i.
Ektomoloqical SociExr ix.
Special Index —
Coleoptera xi.
Diptera xii.
Heiniptera-Heteroptera xii.
„ -Homoptera xiii.
Hynienoptera xiii.
Lejiidoptera xiv.
Neuroptera xvi.
PAQE
List of Conteibutohs xvi.
Genera and Specim new to Science ... xviL
„ „ ,, „ „ Britain ... xviiu
LarVjE of Briti.sh Species described... sx.
Reviews xx.
OBITDAitY XX.
WOOD-CCTS XX.
Errata xx.
INDEX TO GENEEAL SUBJECTS.
PAGE 229
111
A fortnight at Yentnor in October Abia sericea, Xote on the laiTa of
Ablabia argentana. A new British Tortrix : ... ... ... ... ... 85
Abnormal absence of an ocellus in a Trichopterous insect ... ... ... 65
Acentropus, IS'otes on ... ... .. ... ... ... ... ... 257
Aculeate Hjmenoptera, Description of two new exotic, of the families Thyn-
nidffi and Crabronidas ... ... ... ... 185
„ „ of North Wales, A second contribution to the list of 109
Addition, An, to the tnowii species of British Trichoptera (Stenopliylax
rotundipennis) ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 65
A grotera uemoralis, Description of the larva, &c., of ... ... ... ... 232
Agrotis agathina. Query as to breeding .. ... ... ... ... ... 208
Andricus glandium, Occurrence in Britain of the galls of ... ... ... 83
Auisotomidse, Xotes on, with descriptions of thi-ee new species ... ... 119
Anisoxya fuscula. Capture of ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 83
" Annual Report, Seventh, on the Noxious, Beneficial, and otlicr Insects of
the State of Missouri." C.V.Riley ... ... ... ... ..: '11
Ants, On the fondness of, for certain Ilomoptcra ... ... ... ... 10
Apbilothrix radicis". Note on the gall of ... ... .. ... ... 42
Aphodius villosua, &c., at Mickleham, Note on capture of ... ... ... 39
Aplecta occulta. Descriptions of the larva and pupa of ... ... ... C6
Argynnis Dia, Note on ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 229
Bolitochara, Observations on some species of, with description of a new
European species ... ... ... ... ... ... .., 132
Botys lancealis, Description of the larva of ... ... ... ... ... 277
„ terrealis, „ „ „ „ , 200
British Coleoptera, Notes on, with descriptions of tln-ee new species ... 175
„ Dolieliopodidfc, Notes on some, with deserij)tion8 of new species
31, 142, 195, 21.5, 208
„ Ilemiptera — Additions and corrections ... ... ... ... 20, 100
„ „ — An additional species ... ... ... ... ...151,180
„ „ , Description of atlditional species to the list of...l31, 151, 186, 219
TAGF.
BritiBh Hcmiptera — Description of Sehirus picipes, a new British species ... 15 1
„ „ -Heteroptera — Additional species ... ... ... ... 222
„ ,, -Homoptcra — Additional species ... ... ... ... 203
, On certain 21,91,168,205,239,271
„ Homoptera, Notes on, with descriptions of additional species ... 26, 76
„ Ichncumonida', Descriptions of two new ... ... ... ... 19 i
,, species of Sarcophaga, or Flesh-fly, Monograph upon the ... ...216,260
„ „ , On the names of some, of Pselaphidse and Scjdmsenidae ... 225
„ Tcnthredinidse, Descriptions of five new, or little known, species of. . . 189
„ Terebrant Hymenoptera, Notes on ... ... ... ... ... 226
„ Trichoptera, An addition to the British species of, (Stenophylax
rotinidipennis)... ... .. ... ... ... ... ... 65
„ Tortrices, Notes on ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 7
Butterflies from Bolivia, Notes on, with descriptions of two new species ... 153
Callidryas," Note on Mr. Scudder's " Remarks on the old genus ... ... 206
Cantharis vesicatoria. On the metamorphoses of ... ... ... ... 187
Capture of a South American Wa'sp (Polistes bipustulatus) near Liverpool... 156
„ „ Anisoxya fuscida ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 83
„ „ Aphodius villosus, &c., at Mickleham ... ... ... ... 39
„ „ Crambus latistrius at Addington ... ... ... ... .. 114
„ „ living Hcmiptera, natives of the Cape of Good Hope, in the
London Docks ... ... ... ... ... ... .. 236
„ „ Mesovelia furcata ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 79
„ „ Micropteryx Salopiella, &c., at Witherslack ... ... ... 13
„ „ Tropistethus holosericeus at Kiddlosdown... ... ... ... 15
„ „ Ulopa decussata, $ ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 15
„ „ „ „ and U. trivia ... ... ... ... ... 115
Captures of Coleoplera in the Manchester district ... 62
„ „ Noctuida) near OriUia, in the province of Ontario, Canada West 254
„ „ Stylops ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 36
Capturing, On, killing and setting Hymenoptera 62
Caradrina cubicularis in February ... ... ... ... ... ... 230
Cataclysta lemnalis. On the larva, &c., of ... ... ... ... ... 102
" Catalogue des Hemipteres-Heteropt^res, Cicadincs et Psyllides d'Europe
et du bassin de la Mdditerrauee." Dr. Puton ... ... ... ... 167
Catoptria aspidiscana, Larva of ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 1-11
Chiasognathus, Description of a new spcc'cs of .. ... ... ... 174
Chrysomela marginata, Note on... ... ... ... ... ... ... 135
Cidaria sagittata, Habit of larva of ... ... ... ... .. ... 113
Cladius Brullwi, Occurrence in Britain of ... ... ... ... ... 42
„ Drewseni, Note on ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 228
Cleora glabraria, Description of the larva, &c., of ... ... ... ... 84
Cochylis, Note on Tortrices of the genus ... ... ... ... ... 87
Coleophora conyza?, a new British species ... ... ... ... ... 164
„ fuscocuprella .. ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 163
Coleoptera from New Zealand, Description of a new species of Longicorn ... 5
„• in Cormvall, &c., Notes on ... ... • ... ... ... ... 108
111.
VAOK
Coleoptera in the Mauchcster district, Captures of ... ... ... ... 62
„ , Jfotes on British, witli descriptions of three new species ... 175
„ , On the, of Kcrguclen's Island ... ... ... ... ... S'l
Colias Edusa in Devonshire ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 215
Collecting and rearing, On, the Psychidae ... ... ... ... ... 112
Colorado Potato-beetle, The 40,215
Conipsochilus palpalis at Caterham ... ... ... ... ... ... 39
Corixa, Notes on some species of ... ... ... ... .•• ... 137
Crambus latistrius at Addington, Capture of ... ... ... ... ... Ill
Crvptophagus populi, Note on an unrecorded habit of ... ... ... 107
C_\ clcs of Entomology, The ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 89
Cymatophora ridens, On the egg of ... ... ... ... ... ... 232
Deilephila livornica in Glamorgan ... ... ... ... ... ... 44
Description of a new species of Chiasognathus ... ... ... ... 174
„ „ „ „ „ „ Longicorn Coleoptera from New Zealand ... 57
„ „ „ „ „ „ Myrina from W. Africa .,. ... ... 10(J
„ „ „ „ „ „ Nematus from Corsica ... ... ... 9
„ „ additional species to the list of British Hemiptera...l31, 154, 186, 219
„ „ the larva, &c., of Agrotera nemoralis ... ... .. ... 232
„ „ „ „ of Botys lanccalis ... ... ... ... ... 277
„ „ „ „ „ „ terrealis ... ... ... ... ... 209
„ „ „ „ &<;., of Cleora glabraria ... ... ... ... 8t
„ „ „ „ „ „ Pterophorus dichrodactylus... ... ... 233
„ „ „ ,, „ „ „ microdactylus ... ... ... 23l!
„ „ „ „ of „ rhododactylus ... ... ... 88
,, „ „ „ &c., of Ehodophtea suavella... ... ... ... 13
„ „ „ „ of Xylomygcs conspicillaris ... ... ... ... 83
„ „ tliree new Butterflies ... ... ... ... ... ... 9
„ ,, two new exotic Aculeate Hymenoptcra, of the families Thyn-
nida* and Crabi'onidse... ... ... ... ... ... 185
Descriptions of five new, or little known, species of Briti>^]i Tenthrodinidaj... 189
„ „ ,, „ species of European Hcmiptera-IIuteroptera ... 221
,, „ four new South American Ilespcriidas ... ... ... 250
„ ,, liitherto uneliaracterized species of Phytophaga ... ... 73
„ ,, the larva and pupa of Apleeta occulta ... ... ... 66
„ ,, three new species of Diurnal Lepidoptora from Central -Vnieric-a 126
,1 „ „ „ I, „ Lycajnidffi ... ... ... ... 38
„ „ „ „ „ „ TenthredinidcD fronx Scotland ... ... 127
„ ,, two new British Ichneumonidae ... ... ... ... lift
„ „ „ „ species of Lucanida; ... ... ... ... ... 172
Diagnoses breves Dipt, uniusque Lepidoj)t. Insula* Kcrguelonsi indigen. ... 58
DinnthoEcia albimacula. Sphinx eonvolvuli and, at Folkestone ... ... 157
Dicranoneura citrinella, Note on the habitat of ... ... ... ... 187
Discovery, Probable, of the imago of Ilclicopsyche in Europe ... ... 15
Diurnal Lepidoptera from Central America, Descriptions of three new species of 126
Does Polia llavocincta ever iiibernate in the iinago state? ... ... ... 258
Dolicliopodidffi, Notes on some Ihiti.'^li. witli dcserij)! ions of new species
31, 112. 195,245,268
p Doryphora 10-lincata ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 40,
Doubledaj, Ilonry, Death of
„ Collection, The
EbiUea stachydalis, a Pyralis nevr to Eritain ...
Egg of Cymatophoi'u ridcns, On the
Entomological Society of London, Proceedings of the
19, 46, 71, IGl, 188, 215, 238, 258,
„ „ , Haggerston
„ „ , South Loudon ...
" Entomologische IVachrichten"...
Entomology, The Cycles of
„ of Kerguelen's Island, Notes on the
Eros minutus. Note on ...
Eupitheeia togata. On the habits, &c., of the larvse of...
Eui'opean and exotic Lepidoptera
Eusemia, Eevisioia of the Lepidopterous genus, with descriptions of new species
Exportation of Humble-bees to New Zealand
"Field and Forest — Bulletin of the Potomac-side Naturalists' Club"
First white Butterfly — which is it?
Flesh-fly, Monograph upon the British species of S.arcophaga, or ... ...216,
Food-plant, The, in Britain, of the larva of Zclleria sasifragse
G-all of Aphilothrix radicis, Note on the
Galls of Andricus glandium, Occurrence in Britain of the ...
Habit of Cryptophagus populi, Note on an unrecorded
„ „ larva of Cidaria sagittata
„ „ the larva of Hemcrosia Rheediella . . . Habitat of Dicranoneura citrinella, Note on the „ „ Typhlocyba aurovittata. Note on the Habits of Paraponyx stratiotalis, On the larva and
„ , On the, of Psecadia flavitibiella
„ , &c.. On the, of the larva of Eupitheeia togata
Hagen's Bibliotheca, Yon Salis Marschlius : another addition to
Haggerston Entomological Society
Ilalesus digitatus
Halonota ravulana. Re-occurrence of ...
Helicopsyche, Probable discovery of the imago of, in Europe
Hemcrosia Eheediella, Habit of the larva of ...
Hemiptera, British — An additional species ... ... ... ... ...151,
„ „ — Additions and corrections ... ... ... ... 29,
„ „ — Description of Schirus picipes, a new British species...
„ , Capture of living, natives of the Cape of Good Hope, iu the London Docks
„ , Description of additional species to the list of British. ..131, 154, 186,
„ , Note on the odour emitted by
„ -Heteroptera, British — Additional species ...
„ „ , Descriptions of five new species of European
„ „ , Notes on Mediterranean
AGE 215
69
253
158
232
279
165
166
44
89
1
107
157
188
116
136
90
13
260
86
42
83
107
113
253
187
157
160
88
157
237
165
187
68
15
253
186
100
154
236 249 114 222 221 79
I'AOK
ironuptcra-IIoinoptcm, British — Additioiml species .. ... ... ... 203
, On certain British 21,91,168,205,239,271
ITerniaphrodite Lyca>na Alexis ... ... ... ... ... ... ... HI
Hcsperiidfe, Descriptions of four new South American ... ... ... 250
" Historical Sketch of the Generic Names proposed for Butterflies," Notes
on Mr. Sciidder's ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 15
Homoptera, Notes on British, -with descriptions of additional specie'^ ... 26, 76
Humble-bees to New Zealand, Exportation of .. ... ... ... ... 136
Hydi'ocampa nymphaealis. On the larva of, and its habits ... ... ... 210
Hymenoptera, Description of two new exotic Aculeate, of the families Thyn-
nida) and Crabronidse .. ... ... ... ... ... 185
-„ of North Wales, A second contribution to the list of Aculeate 109
„ , On killing and preserving ... ... ... 17,43,62
Ichneumonidaj, Descriptions of two new British ... ... ... ... 194
Insect incendiary, An ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 139
„ organ-builder. An .. ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 237
Insects at St. Helena, Notes on ... ... ... ... ... ... ...156,252
Irish and Welsh Coleoptera, Note on a few ... ... ... ... ... 82
Japanese Ehopalocera, Notes on, with description of a new species ... ... 2
Kerguclen's Island, Notes on the Entomology of ... ... ... ... 1
„ „ On the Coleoptera of ... ... ... ... ... 54
Korguelensi, Breves Dipt, uuiusque Lepidopt. Insula?, indigen. diagnoses ... 58
Killing, On, and preserving Hymenoptera ... ... ... ... 17,43,62
Larentia caesiata, Is, doiable-brooded ? ... ... ... ... ... 68,86,113
„ rullcinctata and L. csosiata, Natural History of ... ... ... 5
Larva and habits. On the, of Paraponyx stratiotalis ... ... ... ... 160
„ „ pupa of Aplecta occulta, Descriptions of the ... ... ... 66
„ of Abia sericca. Note on the ... ... ... ... ... ... Ill
„ , &c., of Agrotera nemoralis, Description of the ... ... ... ... 232
„ of Botys lancealis. Description of the ... ... ... ... ... 277
„ „ „ terrcalis, „ ,, „ ... ... ■■. ... ... 209
„ „ Catoptria aspidiscana ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 141
„ „ Cidaria sagittata, Habit of ... ... ... ... ... ... 113
„ , &c., of Cleora glabraria, Description of the ... ... ... 81'
„ of Heracrosia Rhecdiella, Habit of the ... ... ... ... ... 2."3
„ „ Mesovelia furcata, Note on the ... ... ... ... .. 115
„ , &c., of Ptcrophorus dichrodactylus. Description of the ... ... 233
„ microdactylus, „ „ „ ... ... 234
,, rhododactylus, „ „ „ ... ... 88
Rhodophira snavella, „ ,, „ ... ... 13
Xyloniyges conspicillaris, ,, ,i „ ... ... 83
Zcllcria saxifragfc, The food-plant in Britain of the ... ... 86
„ „ On the, of Cataclysta lemnalis ... .. ... ... ... 102
„ , On the, of Hydrocarapa nymphasalis and its habits ... ... ... 2)0
Larvffi of Eupithecia tognta, On the habits, &.c., of the ... ... ... 1,")7
Leeds Naturalists' Field Club and Scientific Association ... ... ... l-H
Lepidoptera from the Isle of Man, Notes on ... ... ... ... ];js
„ of Pembroke, Stray notes on the ... ... ... ... ... lyi
Lepidoptcra of the Pyrenees, Notes on the
" Lepidoptera, Rhopaloceres and lleteroceres." Herman Strecker
Leucania, A suj)posed new British species of
List of ingects found in Kent and Surrey, Proposed
Lociist, Migratory, in North Devon
Longicorn Coleoptcra from New Zealand, Description of a new species
Loxops eoccineus in September ...
Lueanidse, Descriptions of two new species of ...
Lycajna Alexis herrnaphrodite
„ Galathea, Note on Lycsenidae, Descriptions of three new species of... Mediterranean Hemiptera-Homoptera, Notes on Meloe brevieollis near London
„ cicatricosus, On the metamorphoses of ... Mesovelia furcata, Capture of
„ „ Note on the larva of .. .
Metamoi-phoses of Cantharis vesicatoria, On the „ „ Meloe cicatricosus, On the ...
Migratory locust in North Devon "Missouri, Seventh Annual Report on the Noxious, Beneficial, and
Insects of the State of." C. V. Eiley.,. Monograph on the British species of Sarcophaga, or Flesh-fly Myrina from W. Africa, Description of a new species of Natural Ilistory of Larentia ruficinctata and L. csesiata
}) „ ,, Xylina rhizolitha
Nematus from Corsica, Description of a new species of
„ , On the species of, described in the Entomological Magazine New British Tortrix, A, — -Ablabia argentana
„ genera and species of Prionida; (Longicorn Coleoptcra)...
„ genus and species, On a, of the family Staphylinidaj
„ species of Lycfenidffi, Descriptions of thi'ee
„ Zealand, Exportation of Ilunible-bees to ... Noctuidw, Captures of, near Orillia, in tlic province of Ontario, Canad "North Staffordshire Naturalists' Field Club "... Note on a few Iri.sli and Welsh Coleoptcra
„ „ an unrecorded habit of Cryptophagus populi...
„ „ Mr. Scudder's " Remarks on the old genus Callidryas "
„ „ ravages of Otiorhynchus sulcatus
„ „ setting small Ilymenoptera
„ „ sugaring
„ „ the gall of Aphilothrix radicis ...
„ „ „ larva of Mesovelia fureata ...
„ „ „ odour emitted by Hemiptera Notes on Acentropus
„ „ Anisotomida?, Avitli descriptions of three new species
„ „ British Coleoptcra, with descriptions of three new species.
„ „ „ Homoptera, with descriptions of additional species
of
PAOB 138
141
279
237
215
57
... 115
... 172
... Ill
... 206
38
79
83
135, 187
79
... 115
... 187
135, 187
... 215
other
44
216, 260
... 106
5
140
9
228
47
199
38
136
254
69
82
.. 107
.. 206
83
43
207, 236
12
.. 115
114
.. 257
149
.. 175
.. 26, 76
West
Til.
rxoK
Notos on British Tori riuos ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 7
,, „ Butterdica from Bolivia, with descriptions of two now species ... liJ3
„ „ Coleoptera in Cornwall, &c. ... ... ... ... ... ... 108
„ „ insects at St. Helena ... ... ... ... ... ... 15G, 252
„ „ Japanese Rhopalocera, with description of a new species ... ... 2
„ „ Lcpidoptera from the Isle of Man ... ... ... ... ... 138
„ „ Mediterranean Hemiptera-Hetcroptcra ... ... ... ... 79
„ „ Mr. Scudder's " Historical sketch of the generic names proposed
for Butterflies " .. ... ... 15
„ „ some British Dolichopodidie, with descriptions of new species
31, 142, 195, 245, 268
„ „ „ species of Corixa... ... ... ... ... ... ... 137
„ „ the entomology of Kerguelen's Island ... ... ... ... 1
„ „ „ Lepidoptera of the Pryenees ... ... ... ... ... 138
„ „ „ Tortrices of Pembrokeshire ... ... ... ... ... 230
„ „ Tortrices of the genus Cochylis ... ... ... ... ... 87
„ , Stray, on the Lepidoptera of Pembroko ... ... ... ... ... 181
Observations ou some species of Bolilouhara, with description of a new
European species ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 132
Ocellus, Abnormal absence of an, in a Trichoptcrons insect ... ... ... 65
Occurrence iu Britain of Cladius Brullaei ... ... ... ... ... J2
„ „ „ „ the galls of Andricus gland ium ... ... ... 83
,j „ the North of Ireland of the true Otiorhyncluis monticola.
Germ. ... ... ... ... ... ... .. ... 82
„ of Psammodius porcicollis in Cornwall ... ... ... ... 62
Odour emitted by Hemiptera, Note on the ... ... ... ... ... HI
Orchestes iota. Note ou ; with a moi'al ... ... ... ... ... ... 4'0
„ semirufus, Note on ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 131'
Otiorhynchus monticola, Note on ... ... ... ... ... ... 134
„ „ Occurrence in the North of Ireland of the true ... 82
„ sulcatus. Note on ravages of ... ... ... ... ... 83
Paraponyx stratiotalis, On the larva and habits of ... .. ... ... 160
IV-ronea Lipsiana, &c., at "NVitherslack .. ... ... ... 13
Phytophaga, Descriptions of hitherto uncharactcrizecl species of ... ... 73
Polia flavocincta, Does, ever hibernate in tlie imago state H ... ... ... 'SiH
Potato-beetle, The Colorado ... ... ... ... ... ... l-O, 215
Preserving, On, Ilymenoptera, Diptera, &c. ... ... ... ... ... '13
Prionidce, New genera and species of (Longicorn Coleoptera)... ... ... 17
Prionoplus reticularis in England .. ... ... ... ... ... 82
Probable discovery of the imago of IIelieop!<yehc in Europe ... ... ... 15
Proceedings of the Entomological Society of London
lit, 16, 71, 161, 188, 215, 238, 258, 279
Proposed list of insects found in Kent and Surrey ... ... ... ... 237
Psammodius porcicollis in Cornwall, Occurrence of ... ... ... ... (j2
Psccadia flavitibiclla, On the habits of ... ... ... ... ... ... 88
Psclajjhido) and Scydmsenido), On the names of some British species of ... 225
I'soricoptera gibbosclla near Plymouth ... ... ... ... ... Ill
PsTchidsp, On collecting and rearing the... ... ... .. ... llii
PAGE
Pterophoi'us dichrodactjlus, Description of the larva, &c., of ... .;. ... 233
„ microdactylus, „ » >, » )>»••• •■• •■• 23 i
„ rliodoclactylus, „ » „ „ „ „ ■■• •■■ ••• 88
Query as to breeding Agrotis agatliina ... ... ... ... ... ... 208
Eavages of Otiorhynchus sulcatus, Note on ... ... ... ... ... 83
Rearing, On eollecting and, the PsychidoB ... ... ... ... ... 112
Kedtenbacher, Death of Dr. Ludwig ... ... ... ... ... ... 238
"Remarks on the oldgenus Callidryas," Note on Mr. Scudder's ... ... 206
Re-occurrence of Halonota ravulana ... ... ... ... ... ... G8
Revision of the Lepidopterous genus Eusemia, with descriptions of new
species ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ..'. 116
Rhodophaja simvella, Description of the larva, &o., of ... ... ... ... 13
St. Helena, Note on insects at ... ... ... ... ... ... 156, 252
Sarcophaga, or Flesh-fly, Monograph upon the British species of ... 216, 260
Scudder's " Historical sketch of the generic names proposed for Butterflies,"
Note on Mr 15
„ " Remarks on the old genus Callidryas," Note on Mr. ... ... 206
Scydmceuidfe, Ou the names of some British species of Pselapliidse and ... 225
Setting small Hymenoptera, Note on ... ... ... ... ... ... 43
Solenobia pomonec, Xysmatodoma melanella and ... ... ... ... 208
South London Entomological Society ... ... ... ... ... ... 166
Sphindus dubius, &c., at Chatham ... ... ... ... ... ... 109
Sphinx convolvuli and Dianthoecia albimacula at Folkestone ... .. ... 157
„ „ at East Q-rinstead ... ... ... ... ... ... 139
„ „ „ Emsworth ... ... Ill
„ „ „ Epsom 236
„ „ „ Kingussie, Invcniess-sliirc ... ... ... ... 112
„ „ „ Putney 139
„ „ „ Twickenham ... ... ... ... ... ... 139
„ „ „ Watford 139
„ „ in Berwickshire ... ... ... ... ... ... 188
„ „ „ Devonsliire ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 125
Spilodea palealis, &c., in Norfolk .. .. ... ... ... ... .. 11-1.
„ „ on Barton Moss ... ... ... ... ... ... 114
Staphylinidre, On a new genus and species of the family ... ... ... 199
Stray notes on the Lepidoptera of Pembroke ... .,. ... ... ... 181
Stylops, Captures of ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 36
Sugaring, Note on 207,236
Symplifedra Dirtca attracted by bait ... ... ... ... ... ... 207
Syrictlius alveolus, Note on ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 232
Tenthredinidffi, Descriptions of five new, or little known, species of British... 189
„ from Scotland, Descriptions of tliree new species of ... ... 127
Terebrant Hymenoi^tci-a, Notes on British ... ... ... ... ... 226
" The Lcpidopterists' Calendar" ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 69
" The Naturalist. New Series " 90
Tortrices, Notes on British ... ... .... ... ... ... ... 7
of Pembrokeshire. Notes on tht= ... .., ... ... ... 230
Tovtriocs of the grnus Cofhylis, Notes on Trachys nana of British collections, Note on the Tm|Dezonotus clistingucndus, Note on, and its allies Tricliopterous insect. Abnormal absence of an ocellus in a Tropistethus holoseriecus at Riddlesdown, Capture of ... Typlilocjba aurovittata. Note on the habitat of . . .
„ hyperici, Note on
Ulopa decussata and U. trivia, Capture of
„ „ ?, Capture of
Vanessa Antiopa at Cliertsey
Ton Salis Marschlins : another addition to Hagen's Bibliotlieca "Welsh Coleoptera, Note on a few Irisli and Wilkinson, Thomas, Death of Xylina rhizolitha. Natural history of Xylomygcs conspicillaris, Description of the larva of ... Xysmatodoma mclauella and Solenobia pomona)
„ ;, , On, and the case of its larva
Zelleria saxifragic, The food-plant iu Britain of the larva of ...
I-AOK
87 22G 136
65
15 157 138 115
15
83 237
82 279 140
83 208 163
86
INDEX OF SUBJECTS NOTICED IN THE PKOCEEDINGS OF THE ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF LONDON.
Accntropus niveus ...
^gialia rufa near Southporfc
^schna mixta in November ...
Anisotoma, New or rare British species of ...
Anniversary Meeting
Anomaloptoryx Chauviniana
Argynnis Dia, British example of
Aecalaphidrc, Remarkable form of, from Australia
Attacus, Gigantic species of, from Queensland ...
Blaptida;, New species of ..
Caloptenus spretus, Habits, &c., of
Catocala nupta infested by Acari ...
Cecidomyia botularia in deformed asli-lcaves
Chelifcr parasitic under elytra of Passal us ..
Chrysomela cercalis from Siiowdon
Cleridcous Coleoptera from the Malay Archipelago ...
Coleoptera, New or rare species of British
„ of Japan, Additions to the
Curculionidfe, Species of, from New Fribourg, attacked by a fungus Cychrus and Carabus, Snail-eating species of Doubkday, Death of Henry ...
|
PAGK |
|
... 280 |
|
280 |
|
... 215 |
|
188 |
|
... 238 |
|
280 |
|
... 258 |
|
20 |
|
... 215 |
|
72 |
|
... 72 |
|
165 |
|
... 20 |
|
20 |
|
... 72 |
|
46 |
|
165, 215 |
|
215 |
|
... 71 |
|
... 238,250 |
|
... 71 |
Ebulea stacliydalis from Kingsbury
Endomycici, New genus and species of
Enoicyla, Living female of
Ephemeridae, Proposed supplement to Monograph on tke .
Epliydra, Habits of
Fleas on neck of fowl
Q-nats swarming
Grasshoppers, Apterous, in copuld.
Hahas prasiuana stridulating
Ilalictus nitidiusculus stylopized
Heliozela sericeella, Mines of the larva of
Hemiptera-Hcteroptera, Synopsis of British
Heteromera from Tierra del Fuego
Hylechthrus rubi parasitic on Prosopis rubicola
Hypsa, Species of the genus
Kerguelen's Island, Entomology of
Leconte's collection
Lepidoptera, Differences in the broods of
„ from the Alps
Netrocoryne, Remarks on species of Neuroptera of Japan New Zealand, Hymenoptera of Nomia, New species of ...
Ornithojitera from Cochin, Habits of a species of Osmia and Antliidium, Parasites of
„ bicornis. Nest of, in the lock of a gate Phylloxera vastatrix, Galls of, from near London Podura, Species of, from the Sierra Nevada Pompeii, A Dipterological note from Psyllidee, British species of
Eutelidse from Eastern Asia and Eastern Arcliipelago Spider, Trap-door, from Natal, in bark of trees ... Staphylinidffi from the Amazon Valley Stylops, Capture of males, and habits of Tipulidffi, New forms of ... ... ... ... -
Xylina lambda, near Erith Zygsena filipendulfle, Varieties of ...
„ meliloti, Habits of, and probable hybridization in,
PAGE 280
... 165
165 ... 280
188 ... 46
280
... 258
46
... 71
164 ... 165
165 ... 71
165 20, 46
280 ... 259
215
... 72
20, 46
... 280
20
... 71
71, 188
... 71
46
... 46
259
... 259
20
... 72
238 20, 280
259 ... 280
188 ... 46
SPECIAL INDEX.
COLEOPTERA.
PAGE
-Egosoma angustatum (sp. n.),
H. W. Bates 51
javanicum, Redt., Synonymy of 51
iEiogramuius (g. n.), H. W. Bates ... 50
rufus (sp. n.), „ ... 61
Agonelj-tra (g. n.), C. 0. Waterhouse ... 55
angHsticollis (sp. n.), „ ... 56
brevis „ „ ... 57
gracilipes „ „ ... 56
longipennis „ „ ... 56
Aleochara hibernica (sp. n.), Rye 175
Ana.spis (sp. n.) ... ... ... ... 62
Anisotoma algirica (sp. n.), Rye ... ... 151
baicalensis „ „ ... ... 151
clavicornis „ „ ... ... 150
curta 150
litura, var. n. maculicoUis, Rye 152
152
152
1-19
83
47 39
lunicollis, Rye
inacropus „
obloiiga, <J
Anisoxya fuscula ...
Anoploderma quadricolle (sp. n.)
H. W. Bates
Antheropbagu3 silaceus ... Apbodius villosus at Micklebam ...
Apotrophus (g. n.), H. W. Bates 48
simplicicollis (sp. n.),
H. W. Bates 49
Atomaria divisa (sp. n.), Rye 178
impressa... ... ... ... 62
Bolitocbara, Observations on ... ... 132
Mulsanti, Sharp ... ... 133
Reyi (sp. n.), Sharp 133
Bryaxis cotus (Lefebvrei, Shp.) 225
Canonopsis (g. n.), C. O. Waterhouse ... 54
sericeus (sp. n.), „ ... 55
Cantharis vesicatoria, Metamorphoses of 187
Cephalolia cwruleata (sp. n.), Baly ... 75
emarginata „ „ ... 74
(Jharispa amicula „ „ ... 73
ca^rulescens „ „ ... 74
elongata „ „ ... 73
Chiasognathus Higginsi (sp. n.), Parry ... 174
Choleva colonoides... ... ... ... 62
Chrysomela marginata ... ... ... 135
Colon Barnevillii (= Zebii, var.) 177
Colorado potato beetle 40, 215
Compsocliilus palpalis at Caterbam
Cossouidaj of St. Helena ...
Cryptopbagus populi associated w-itb Col- let es
ruticornis ...
subfumatus'
PAGE
.. 39 .. 252
107 109 178
Cyclommatus Zuberi (sp. n.),
C. O. Waterhouse 173
Demotispa elegans (sp. n.), Baly 75
Diuoprionus (g. n.), H. W. Bates ... 49
cepbalotes (sp. u.), II. W. Bates 50
Eros minutus ... ... ... ... 107
Erytbriunus (g. n.), H. W. Bates ... 52
borneensis (sp. u.), H.W. Bates 53
Euplectus Abeillei 225
Duponti 225
piceus ... ... ... ... 225
puuctatus ... ... ... 225
Graptodera ericeti 179
beliaiithemi ... ... ... 179
longicollis ... ... ... 179
montana ... ... ... 180
oleracea ... ... ... 180
Harpalus tenebrosus in Cornwall ... 108
Ilomalium gracilicorne ... ... ... 176
Homalota clavipes in Ireland ... ... 82
egregia (sp. n.), Rye 176
eremita in Ireland 82
nitidula „ 82
tibialis „ 82
valida „ 82
Hydroporus assimilis, var. ... ... 175
Megapenthes lugens ... ... ... 39
Meloe brevicoUis near London ... ... 83
cicatricosus, Metamorphoses of ... 135 Mycetopoi-us (tenuis ?) in Ireland ... 82
Myrmecoxcnus vaporariorura ... ... 62
Nanopbyes gracilis, Synonymy of ... 178
Odontolabis Gouberti (sp. n.),
C. O. Waterhouse 172
Olibrus belveticus ... ... 177
Orcbestcs iota ... ... ... ... 40
somirufus ... ... ... 134
Otiorhynchus monticola ... ... 82, 134
sulcatua, Ravages of ... 83
Oxypoda rupicola, R3'e, iu Ireland ... 82
Parandra Janus (sp. n.), II. W. Bates ... 47
Phalacrus 177
PAGE !
P}iytosus atriceps (sp. ii.),
C. O. Wnterhouse 54
Platysoma oblongum near Manchester ... 62
Prionoi)lusFreticulari.s in England ... 82
P.samraobius porcicollis in Cornwall 62, 108
Psylliodes instabilis ... ... ... 180
Scydmffiiius glyptocephalus 225
helvolu3 225
Sharp! 225
Sparshalli 225
Silpha chceradica, Von Salis 237
Sphindus dubius at Chatham 109
Temuesthes (g. n.), H. W. Bates 51
lobicollis (sp. n.), H. W. Bates 52
Thyamis ferruginea ... 180
Trachys putnila 226
Triarthron Majrkeli 152
Trimium brevicorne and brevipenne ... 225
Vatesus (g. n.), Sharp 201
latitaus (sp. n.), Shai-p ... ... 202
Zorion Batesi (sp. u.), Sharp 57
DIPTERA.
Amalopteryx (g. n.), Eaton 58
niaritima (sp. n.), Eaton ... 58
Anatalanta (g. n.), Eaton 59
aptera (sp. n.), Eaton ... 59
Apcticnus (g. n.), Eaton 53
litoralis (sp. n.), Eaton ... 68
Calycopteryx (g. n.), Eaton 59
Mosleyi (sp. n.), Eaton ... 59
Chrysotus, Revision of British species of 245
ainplicornis, Zett. ... ... 248
blepharosceles, Kow 246
microcerus, Kow 248
palustris (sp. n.), Verrall ... 247
pulchellus, Kow 248
Diaphorus dorsalis (sp. n.), Verrall ... 198
Dolicbopodidffi, British... 31, 142, 195, 245, 268
Dolichopus latilimbatus 31
mcdiicornis (sp. u.), Verrall 32, 123
puncticornis ... ... ... 142
strigipes (sp. n.), Verrall ... 143
Empis borealis ... ... ... ... 13
Gyranopternus chrysozygus 145
plagiatus 34
Hydrophorua praacox ... ... ... 269
Halirytus (g. n.), Eaton 60
amphibius (sp. n.), Eaton ... 60
Limnopbyes (g. n.), Eaton 60
pusillus (sp. n.), Eaton ... 60
PAC 1
Medeterns flavipes ... ... ... ... 27''
Porpliyrops simplex (sp. u.), Verrall ... 195
tenuis „ „ ... 197
Sarcophaga, Monograph of British species
of 216, 2GU
adolescens, Rond.
affinis, Fall
agricola, Meig.?
albiceps „ ?
Atropos „
clathrata „
cruentata „
... 263
... 264
... 261
... 200
2C()
263
266
dissimilis „ 264
hajmatodes „ ... ... 266
baemorrhoa,, ... ... 267
haemovrhoidalis, Zett. ... 265
infantula, Rond. ... ... 265
juvenis „ ... ... 263
laticornis, Meig. ... ... 262
melanura „ ... ... 261
nigriventris ,, ... ... 262
nurus, Roud. 266
eetipennis „ ... ... 264
similis (sp. n.), Meade ... 261
Sj'mpycnus bifasciellus ... ... ... 269
nigritibialis 268
Sj'ntormon codicuemus ... ... ... 146
Tipula alpina ... ... ... ... 13
Teuchophorus pectinifer ... ... ... 268
Xiphaudrium auctum ... ... ... 148
HEMIPTERA-IIETEROPTERA.
Acompocoris alpinus ... ... ... 249
Calyptonotus Putoni (sp. n.), E. Saunders 221
Walkeri „ „ 221
Captures in Cornwall ... ... ... 108
Corixa, Notes on some species of 137
prominula ... ... ... ... 224
Cryptacrus pinguis found alive in London 236
Gerris aspera 223
Lopus sulcatus ... ... ... ... 186
Loxops coccineus in September ... ... 115
Macrocoleus tauaceti ... ... ... 131
Macropterna Lethierryi (sp.n.), E.Saunders 221 Mediterranean species, Notes on ... ... 79
Mesovelia furcata. Capture of, in Britain... 79 Parra ... ... ... ... 115
MjTmedobia tenella 249
Nabis Poweri (sp. n.), E. Saunders ... 250 rugosus ... ... ... ... 154
Odour emitted by Ilemiptera 114
Oiicotylus ni^ricornis (sp. n.), E.Saunders 222
Pilopborus clavatusi, Lin. ... ... ... 100
pcrpU'xus (sp. n.), Douglas and Scott 101
Salda pallipes 30
pilosella 30
Scolopostethus brevis (sp. n.), E. Saunders 221
Trapezonotus dispar ... ... ... 222
distingueudus and its allies 136
Tropistethus holosericeus at Riddlesdown 15
|
HEMIPTERA-IIOMOPTERA. |
|
|
AUygus (g. n.), (Fieb.), Scott |
169 |
|
commutatus (sp. n.), (Fieb.), Scott 171 |
|
|
mistus |
171 |
|
modestus (sp. n.), (Fieb.), Scott.. |
172 |
|
Atbj'sanus canescens |
95 |
|
depressus (sp. n.), Scott |
95 |
|
dilutior |
99 |
|
grisescens |
95 |
|
irroratus (sp. n.), Scott |
96 |
|
nervosus |
168 |
|
obscurellus ... |
98 |
|
obsoletus ... |
97 |
|
piceus (sp. n.), Scott |
. 97 |
|
plebeiils |
. 93 |
|
prasinus |
. 99 |
|
sordidus |
. 96 |
|
striatulus |
. 100 |
|
striolu ... |
. 168 |
|
subfusculus |
. 99 |
|
Deltocepbalidaj, Revision of British |
. 239 |
|
Dcltocephalus abdoininalis |
. 242 |
|
Ar^ais |
. 276 |
|
assimilis |
. 213 |
|
Falleni |
. 271 |
|
flavipennis (sp. n.), Scott. |
. 242 |
|
longicaput „ „ . |
. 239 |
|
maculiceps |
. 241 |
|
metrius |
. 211 |
|
Minki |
. 213 |
|
Mul-ianti ... |
. 240 |
|
occllaris |
. 275 |
|
oculatus |
. 274 |
|
puscuellus |
. 244 |
|
pulicaris |
. 275 |
|
punctuni |
271 |
|
sabulicola |
. 272 |
|
socialis |
. 273 |
|
stviatus |
. 272 |
P.\OE
Dicranoucura citriiu-lla 27, 187
mollicula ... ... ... 28
P3'giua'a (sp. n.), Douglas... 203
Eurybregma (g. n.), Scott 92
nigrolineata (sp. n.), Scott... 92
Eupteryx tenellus ... 204
GraphocrjErus ventral is ... ... ... 25
Issus associated with autB... . . ... 11
Liburnia paludosa ... ... ... ... 205
Tettigometraj associated with nnts ... 10
Thamnotettix, Zett. (genus) 21
attenuata ... ... ... 22
corniculus ... ... ... 23
coronifer ... ... ... 24
crocea ... ... ... 22
cruentata 23
frontalis ... ... ... 25
intermedia... ... ... 25
melanopsi-i... ... ... 23
nigricornis... ... ... 91
Prcyssleri ... ... ... 25
quadrinotata ... ... 25
splendidula ... ... 24
torneella (punctifrons) ... 24
virescens ... ... ... 25
vitripennis... Typblocyba alneti
aurovittata(sp.n.), Doug.
crataegi „ „
debilis „ „
gratiosa
hyperici, Note on
lactea ...
rosea ...
tcnerrinia
tilia3
Typblocj'bidaB, Briti.sh species Ulopa decussata, 9, at Riddlesdown trivia, tJ, ,, „
IIYMENOPTERA.
Abia sericea
.iElurus flavopictus (sp. n.), Ritsema
Agenia bifiusciata ...
Andricna nigriccps ..
Andricus glundium ... ...
Ants, Fondness of, for Ilomoptera
Aphilothrix radicis
Astata stigma
Bassus peronatus (sp. n.), Marshall
... 24
... 77
76, 157
... 203
... 204
... 78
... 138
... 77
... 77
... 28
... 79
... 20
15, 115
... 115
111
185
110
110
83
10
42
lf)0
194
PAGE
Cladius Brull.i'i 42
Drcwsoni 228
North European species 228
Cynipidae, New British species 226
Eriocampa aethiops ... ... ... 192
Eumesius crassiconiis ... ... 195,228
Fenella iiigrita, Synonymj' of ... ... 131
Hymeiioptera, On killing and preserving
17, 43, 62
Ichneutes reunitor, var. brevis ... ... 195
Limiieria croceipes (sp. n.), Marshall 194, 228
Nematus baccarum (sp. n.), Cameron ... 189
caddcrensis „ „ ... 127
crassipes, var. n. vacciniellus,
Cameron 190
dorsatus (sp. n.), Cameron ... 129
flavipennis „ „ ... 189
luteus 130
Marshalli (sp. n.), Cameron ... 9
melanoceplialus, Synonymy of 129
Sharpi (sp. n.), Cameron ... 191
Synonymy of species described by Newman 228
Nj'sson dimidiatus... ... ... ... 110
rha?ni;sa albipes (sp. n.), Cameron ... 131
Polistes bipustulatus near Liverpool ... 156
Psen ornatus (sp. n.), Ritsema ... ... 185
Tenthredinida;, New British species ... 227
Wales, Aculeata in North... ... ... 109
LEPIDOPTERA.
Ablabia argcntana ... Acberontia Atropos Agrotera nemoralis Agrotis agatliina ...
fennica Antispila Pfeifferella
Aphuajus Vixinga
Aplecta occul ta
Argynnis Dia Botys lancealis terrealis Butalis incongrnella Caradriua cubicularia Cataclysja Icmualis Catoptria aspidiscana
ca;cimaculana ... Ceratiuia Boucardi
Mylassa
Choerocampa Erotus
... 86
... 188
... 232
... 208
... 254
... 253
... 39
... 66
... 229
... 277
... 209
... 13
... 230
... 102
... 141
... 231
... 126
... 126
... 139
Cidaria sagittata
Cleora glabraria
Coch3'lis dilucidana
flagcllana...
Francillana
sanguinana
Coleophora conyza ...
fuscocuprella .., Colias Edusa
Hyale
Crambus geniculellus latistrins ... Cymatophora ridena Danais Tytia Dasypolia Templi ... Deilcpbila li vomica Diantbfficia albimacula Dicrorampha acuminatana consortana .. tanaceti Ebulca stachydalis... Embryonopsis halticella .. Ephippiphora signatana .. Epichnopteryx helix Erebia merula Erycides Gaudialis... tenebricosa
Teutas
Euchromia ericetana purpurana
Eupithocia togata
Eupoecilia atiinitana
atricapitana h3'bridella
rupicola
vectisana
Eusemia adulatrix
afflicta
africana ... Agrius
albomarginata ., amatrix ... arruana ... Aruna basalis Batesi Belangeri... bellatrix ... Bisma Butleri ' Clymene ...
Euseinia coininunicaus communis connexa ... contigua ... contractu ... dentatrix ... distincta ... Doleschalli Eriopis eudamoides Eupliemia fasciatrix ... flaviciliata hesperioides Irenaea josioides ...
lectrix
Lethe
Lindigi
longipennis
maculatrix
Megisto ...
Moorei
nigripennis
nipalensis...
orientalis ...
Pales
pallida pardalina... Pedasus ...
Peshwa
proxima ...
pulchra ...
sectinotis...
Sempcri ...
silhetcnsia
simplex
subdives ...
supcrlta ...
terminalis
tricolor
Tyriaiitliina
vacillans ...
vetula
victrix
villicoidcs...
vittata
VTilcaiiia ...
Zea
Gracilaria phasianipcnnelia Ilaloiiota ravulaiia ...
|
PAGE |
PAGE |
||
|
... 119 |
Iluliophobus popularis |
... Ill |
|
|
.. 119 |
Hemerosia Khecdiella |
... 253 |
|
|
.. 119 |
Hydrocampa iiympliiL-alis |
... 210 |
|
|
... 120 |
Hypochrysops Buba-sea |
... 38 |
|
|
... 117 |
Delicia |
... 38 |
|
|
... 119 |
Ismcne Beiijamiiii, var. japouica.. |
... 4 |
|
|
... 118 |
Ithomia Pagasa |
... 126 |
|
|
... 124 |
Larentia cKsiata 5, |
68 |
86, 113 |
|
... 121 |
ruficiiictata ... 5, |
68, |
87, 113 |
|
... 124 |
Leptalis Hippotas |
... 10 |
|
|
... 120 |
Mc'dorina |
... 9 |
|
|
... 119 |
Lethe Diana |
... 3 |
|
|
... 125 |
Sicelis |
... 3 |
|
|
... 122 |
Whiteleyi |
... 3 |
|
|
... 119 |
Leucania, sp. ? |
... 279 |
|
|
... 125 |
Leucophasia amurensis |
... 3 |
|
|
... 118 |
Lyca;ua Alexis |
... Ill |
|
|
... 125 |
Argus |
... 3 |
|
|
... 125 |
Galathea |
... 206 |
|
|
... 121 |
metallica |
... 207 |
|
|
... 118 |
Nycula |
... 207 |
|
|
... 125 |
Micropteryx salopiella |
... 13 |
|
|
... 122 |
Myriiia Genuba |
... 106 |
|
|
... 117 |
Pamphila flava |
... 4 |
|
|
... 118 |
sylvanus |
... 4 |
|
|
... 117 |
Papilio Xeiiagoras |
... 153 |
|
|
... 121 |
Xynias |
... 153 |
|
|
... 121 |
Paraponyx stratiotalis |
... 160 |
|
|
... 120 |
Peuthina marginana |
... 230 |
|
|
... 121 |
Peronea Lipsiaua |
... 13 |
|
|
... 121 |
Pieris Melete |
... 3 |
|
|
... 123 |
napi |
... 13 |
|
|
... 122 |
rapso |
... 13 |
|
|
... 117 |
Polia flavocincta |
... 258 |
|
|
... 124 |
P.secadia flavitibiella |
... 88 |
|
|
... 116 |
Psoricoptera gibbosella |
... 114 |
|
|
... 118 |
Pterophorus dichrodactylus |
... 233 |
|
|
... 122 |
microdactylus |
... 234 |
|
|
... 120 |
rliododactylus |
... 88 |
|
|
... 121 |
t<]iliradactylu3 |
... 13 |
|
|
... 122 |
Pyrrhopyga Agenaria |
... 251 |
|
|
... 116 |
] Rhod()pha.'a suavclla |
... 13 |
|
|
... 123 |
Sciaphilapcrtcniiia |
... 230 |
|
|
... 119 |
Solenobia pomon.'o |
... 208 |
|
|
... 117 |
Sphinx convolvuli ... HI, 112, ] |
25, |
1:50,1.57, |
|
... 120 |
188, 236 |
||
|
... 122 |
Spilodes palcalis |
... 114 |
|
|
... 123 |
Stigmonota erectana |
... 8 |
|
|
... 121 |
nitidana |
... 7 |
|
|
13, 163 |
Weirana |
... 7 |
|
|
... 68 |
Stilbia anomala |
... 138 |
Syricthus alveolus ... Trochilium iclineumoniformo Vanessa Antiopa ...
polycliloro9
xaiithomelas Xyliiia rhizolitha ... Xyloinj'ges coiispicillaris Xj-smatodoma iiielanclla
|
232 |
V.\GV. Zellena insignipeiinella 11(53 |
|
mo 182 |
saxifragiE 86 |
|
83 |
|
|
4 4 |
NEUROPTERA (in the Lbmcan sense). |
|
... 140 |
Helicopsyche in Europe 15 |
|
83 |
Stenopliylax rotundipenuis 65 |
|
163, 208 |
Halcsus digitatus ... 187 |
INDEX TO CONTRIBUTOES.
PAGK
Baly, Joseph S., F.L.S 73
Barrett, C.G 7,158,181,230
Barrett, J. Piatt 237
Bates, H. W., F.L.S 47
Blackmore, Trovey 139
Bolton, H. H., Jun 83
Boyd, W. C, F.L.S 163
Briggs, C. A 230
Buckler, W. ... 13, 66, 84, 102, 111, 140, 160, 210, 233, 234, 277
Buckmaster, C. J 229
Butler, A. G., F.L.S 15,116,206
Cameron, P., Jun. ... 9, 42, 83, 111, 127, 189,
226, 228
Champion, G. C 39, 82, 107, 134, 236
Chapman, Thomas 68
Chappell, Joseph 62, 114
Cooke, Benjamin 43
Cottam, Arthur 139
Crewe, Rev. H. Harpur, M.A. ... ■ 157
De Borre, A. P 40
Decastro, H 139
Delpino, Prof. F 10
Distant, W. L 138
Douglas, J. W....I0, 26, 29, 76, 83, 89, 114, 115, 136, 137, 138, 154, 157, 203, 222
Druce, Herbert, F.L.S 126
D'Urhan, W. S. M., F.L.S 215
Eaton, Rev. A. E., M.A 1,58
Enock, Frederick 36
Fenn, Charles 83
Forbes, W. A 135
Gill, W. Battershell, M.D 114, 279
Gill, Rev. W. Wyatt 139
Hall, C. G 82
Harding, George 208
Hellins, Rev. J., M.A 5,113,232
Hewitsou, W. C, F.L.S. ...9,38, 106, 153, 250 Hodgkinson, J. B 13,68,141,103
John, Evan
Jones, A. V.
Jordan, R. C. R., M.D
Kriechbaumer, Dr
Lewis, W. Arnold, F.L.S
Lichtenstoin, Jules
McLacblan, R., F.L.S 15, 65^
Marshall, Rev. T. A., M.A., F.L.S.
Matthews, T
Meade, R. H
Meldola, Raphael, F.C.S
Moncreaff, Henry
Murray, Rev. R. P., M.A
Norman, George
Parry, Major F. J. S., F.L.S. ...
Pierret, E
Porritt, G. T., F.L.S. ... 68, 88, 138, 209, 236, 258
Ragonot, E. L. ...
Ritsema, C
Rouast, G
Rye, E. C, F.Z S. Saudison, W. Saunders, E., F.L.S. Saunders, William Scott, John
107, 149;
..131, 154, 18&
FAQB
... 44 ... 236 ... 188 ... 17 ... 229 ... 135
111', 187 ... 194 ... Ill
216, 260 ... 139 ... 40 2, 207
208, 254 ... 174 ... 114
... 87 185, 257
... 112 , 175, 237 188, 207 221, 249
... 113
Sharp, David, M.B. ...
Smith, Frederick
Spiers, Ernest S
Stainton, H. T., F.R.S.
Ullyett, Henry
Verrall, G. H
Wailly, A
Walker, James J., R.X.
21, 79, 91, 92, 93, 115, 168, 205 236, 239, 271
... 57,132,199,225
30, 62, 109, 112, 156
83
... 13, 88, 164, 253
157
31, 142, 195, 245, 268
83
... 62, 79, 103, 109
W^ard, A. 0 43
Waterhouse, Charles 0 54, 172
Webb, Sydney 68
White, F. Buchanan, M.D., F.L.S... 85, 86 Woll»ston, T. v., M.A., F.L.S. ... 156, 252
LIST OF NEW GENERA AN IN THIS
COLEOPTERA. GENERA.
PAGE
i'l>]ROGKAMMt7S, JT. W. Bates 50
AooyKLTTRA, C. O. Waterhouse 55
Apotbophus, if. W.Bates 48
Canonopsis, C. O. Waterhouse 54
DiNOPRiONCS, if. jr. .Ba^es 49
Erythej-nps, „ 52
Tkmnesthes, „ 51
Vatescs, Sharp 201
SPECIES.
^Egosoma angustatum, H. Jf. Bates, Ceylon 51
^rogrammus nifus, „ Borneo 51
Agonelytraangusticollis, CO. Waterhouse,
Kerquelea I. 56
brevis, „ „ 57
gracilipes, „ „ 56
loiiffipennis, „ „ 56
Aleochara hibornica, Hi/e, Ireland 175
Anisotoma algirica, „ Algiers 151
baicalensis, „ Siberia 151
clavicornis, „ Scotland 150
Aiioplodenna qiiadricolle, S. W. Bates,
Jtlendnza 47
Ai)otropbus simplicicollis, „ Brazil... 49
IJolitochara Reyi, SAarjj, Prance 133
Ikyaxis cotiis, „ MS., Scotland... 225
Caiionop«is sericcus, C. O. Waterhouse,
Kcrffuelen I. 65
Ccphn\()\i'd ca>.r\\\p!di\. Ball/, Brazil 75
einarginata, „ Bard 74
Charispa auiicula, „ „ 73
c*nile.scen8, „ Bahia 74
elongata, „ Jiio Grrande 73
Chiasognatbus Higginsi, Parri/, Bolivia 174
Cyclomiriatus Zubcri, C. O. Waterhnxutc,
Fhllippines 173
Demotispa clegans, 2?f(/i/, .EcMar/or 75
Dinoprionuscephalotes.JBT. W.Bates,India 60
Erythra;nus boriiecnsis, „ Sarawak 53
OJoiitolabis Goubeiti, C. O. Waterhouse,
Philippines 172
I'iiiandra Jamis, ]I. W. Bates, Celehcs,
.Sew Guinea 47
Pbytosns atviccps, C. O. Waterhoiise,
Kvrguetcn I. 54
Tomnesthes lobicoll is, H. W.Bates, Bogota 52
Vatesus latitans, S/inry, Parana 202
Zorion Batesi, „ N.Zealand 57
D SPECIES, &c., DESCRIBED VOLUME,
DIPTERA. GENEUA.
PARK
Amaloptertx, Eaton 58
Anatalanta-, „ 59
Apet^ncs, „ 58
Calycoptertx, „ 59
Halirttus, „ 60
LiMNOPHTES, „ 60
SPECIES. Araalopteryx vaav\i\vaA,Eaton,Kerg uehn I. 68
Anatalanta aptera, „ „ 59
Apet;cnus litoralia, „ „ 58
Calycopteryx Mosleyi, „ „ 59
Chrysotus palustris, Verrall, England .. 247
Diapborus dorsalis, „ „ ... 198
Dolicbopus niediicornis, „ „ ... 32
strigipes, „ „ ... 143
Halir3'tus ainpbibiu3,.Ka^on, Kerguelen T. 60
Limnopbycs pusilhis, „ „ 60
Porpbyrops simplex, Yerr all, England .. 195
tenuis, „ Scotland .. 197
Sarcopbaga similis, Meade, England 261
HKMIPTERA-HETEROPTERA.
CalyptonotusPutoni,^.SaM»(fer.'?,.4/5'crta 221
Walkeri, „ Malta 221
Macropterna Letbicrryi, „ Attica 221
Nabis Poweri, „ England ... 260
Oncotylus nigricornis, „ La Rochclle 222
Pilopborus perplexus, Dour/las <^- Scott,
England 101
Scolopostctbus brevis, E. Saunders, Malta 221
HEMIPTERA-HOMOPTERA. GENERA..
AiXYavs (Fieh.), Scott IBO
EuRvnnKOMA, Scott 92
SPECIES.
Allygus commutntiis, Scott, England .. 171
modi'stus, „ „ ... 172
Atbysaiins dcprcssns, „ „ ... 9n
irroratus, „ „ ... 96
piceus, „ „ ... 97
Deltoccpbalus fbiviponnis, ,, „ ... 212
longioaput, „ „ ... 24*1
Dicranoneura pygmaja, Douglas, England 203
Eurybrngma nigrolineata, Scott, „ 93
|
PAGE Typhlocyba aurovittata, Douglas, „ 76, 157 |
|
|
craticgi, „ „ 203 |
|
|
debilis, „ „ |
204 185 |
|
HYMENOPTERA. -ffiluras flavopictus, C. Bitsema, Aru |
|
|
Bassus peronatus, T. A. Marshall, Scotland 194 |
|
|
Limneria croceipes, „ „ 191 |
|
|
Nematus baccarum, Cameron, Scotlanl... 189 |
|
|
caddereiisis, „ „ • |
127 |
|
doi-satus, „ 5, ■• |
129 |
|
flavipennis, „ ., •• |
189 |
|
Marshall!, „ Corsica .. |
9 |
|
Sharpi, „ Scotland.. |
191 |
|
Phasnusa albipes, „ „ ■■ |
131 |
|
Pseii ornatus, C. Sitsetna. Java |
185 |
61
LEPIDOPTERA. GENUS.
Embetonopsis, Eaton
SPECIES. Aphnajus Vixinga, SewHson, Borneo ... 39
Ceratinia Boucardi, Drnce, Verac/ua 126
Mylassa, „ „ 126
PA(i K
Embi-yonopsis halticella, Eaton,
Kerguelen I. 01
Erebia Merula, Sewitson, New Zealand.. \U
Erycides gaudialis, „ Chiriqui 35U
tenebricosa, „ Peru 251
Teutas, „ Amazons 251
Eusemia afflicta, Butler, Bombay 118
contracta, „ India 117
eudaraoides, „ Celebes 12t
sectiiiotis, „ India 117
simplex, „ Canara 118
tyrianthina, „ N. In-lia 116
vulcania, „ Btirmah 123
Hypoclirysops B\i\yAses,TIeu-itso7i,Malacca 38
Delicia, „ Australia 38
Ithomia Pagasa, Dr!(ce, Ferai/wa 126
Leptalis Hippotas, Hewitson, Ecuador .. 10
Medoiiua, „ Bolima ... 9
Mi'riua Geiiuba, „ Cameroons 1U6
Pampliila flava, B. P. Murray, Japan ... 4
Papilio Xyuias, Sewitson, Bolivia 153
Prepona Xenagoras, „ „ 153
Pyrvbopyga Agenoria, Sewitson, Peru... 251
Stiginonota erectana, Bai-rett, England... 8
ADDITIONS TO THE BRITISH INSECT FAUNA BROUGHT FORWARD IN THIS VOLUME.
COLEOPTERA.
PAGE
Aleocbara bibernica (.sp. n.), Bye 175
Anisotoma clavicornis „ „ 150
curta, Fairm 150
Atomaria divisa (sp. n.), J?ye 178
Bryaxis cotus (Lefebvrei, SAj?.) 225
Colon Banievillii, Ktz 177
Cryptopbagus subfumatus, Ktz 178
Euplectus Abeillei 225
Duponti 225
piccus 225
Homalota egregia (sp. n.), J?ye 176
Olibius hclveticus (ro!(j'»«er, Jf<S.^ 177
Scydnia.>mi3 glyptocepbahis 225
Sbarpi 225
Tbyamis fenugiiiea, Foudr 180
Tiachys pvmiila, 111 226
DIPTERA.
Chrysotus amplicornis, Zett 218
blcpharosceles, Kow 246
niicrocevus, „ 248
palustris (sp. n.), Verrall 247
pulchellus, Kow. 248
PA OK
Diapborus dorsalis (sp. 11.), T'ercrt/? 198
Dolichopus latiliuibatus, Mcq 31
niediicoiTiis(sp. ii.),J^'erraW 32, l-H
puiicticoniis, 2ett 14iJ
strigipes (sp. n.), Verrall 14-3
Gymuopterinis cbrysozygus, IV. 115
plagiatus, Lw. 31
Hydropborus prsecox, Lelim '2(59
Medeterus flavipes, 3feig 27<J
Porpbyiops simples (sp. n.), Verrall 195
tenuis „ „ 197
Sarcophaga adolescens, Bond 263
affiuis, Fall 264
agricola, Meig.? 261
albiceps, „ ? 200
Atropos, „ 20U
clatbrata, „ 263
crueutata, „ 266
dissiniilis, „ 264
hamalodes, „ 266
liaeniorrhoa, „ 267
ba>nionhoidalis, Ze<^ 205
iiifantula, i?ojj(f 265
juveuis, „ 263
PACT
Sarcopliaga laticoniis, Meig 262
melanura, ,, 261
nigriventvis, „ 262
nurus, Rond 266
setipeiinis, „ 264
similis (sp. n.), Meade 261
Sympycnus bifasciellus, Ze</ 209
nigritibialis, „ 268
Syntorinon cjcdieneinus, Lw 140
Teuchopliorus poctinifer, ^o£o 268
Xiphaiidriuin auctum, jLw 148
HEMIPTERA-HETEROPTERA.
GENUS. AcoMPOCORis, Renter 249
SPECIES.
Acompocoris alpinns, JZfM^er 249
Corixa prominula, TAowiS 224
Gerris aspera, Fiebcr 223
Lopus sulcatus, „ 186
Macrocoleus tanaceti, i^aZZ^jt 131
Myrmedobia tenella, Ze« 249
Nabis Poweri (sp. n.), E. Sanml 250
rugosus, iirt 154
Pilophorus clavatus, Lin 100
perplexus (sp. n.), Doug, atid
Scott 101
Salda pallipes, Ft/ft 30
pilostlla, Thorns 30
Sehirus picipes. I'VZ/ 154
Trapezoiiotusi dispar, S'f/Z 222
H EM 1 1'TERA-IIOMOPTERA.
GENERA.
Alltgcs (g. n.), (F(V/).) Seo^^ 169
EURTBREGMA (g. II.), Srott 92
SPECIES.
Allygus commutatus (sp. n.), Scott 171
modt'stus „ „ 172
Atbysaiius deprt'ssus, „ „ 95
dilutiov, A'i>«r/i6 99
iiToratiis (sp. n.), Scott 96
obsoletus, Kirschh 97
obscurc'llus, J<\(// 98
piceus (sp. 11. )> Sco^ 97
plebeius, F^(/i 98
sordidus, Ze« 96
Dultocepbalus assiiiiilis, Frt7Z 213
Fallcni, Vich 271
Hiivipi'iiiiis (sp. 11.), Scott .. 2\Q
loiigiciiput „ „ ... 240
metiius, i'^or 241
-Mmi.[,Fieb 213
Miilsai.ti, „ 240
ocnhdns, J. Sahib 271
XIX. I'AOB
Dicranoncura citrinclla. Zc^f 27
Tnollicula, i^rt/j 28
pygmaja (sp. n.), Doug 203
Eupterj'X tenellus, JPa« 204
Eurybregma iiigroliueata (sp. n.), Scott .. 92
Graphociieriis veutralis, Full 25
Libuniia paludosa, J'/or 205
Thamnotettix intermedia, iJo/i 26
iiigriconiis, J". Srt/ii5 91
Prey ssleii, Schcif. 25
Typlilocyba alneti, i>«/(/6 77
aurovittata (sp. n.), (Fieb.)
Dong. ... 76, 157
cratiBgi (sp. n.), Doug 203
debilis „ „ 204
gratiosa, Soh 76
lactea, ie^A 77
rosea, Flor 77
tiliaj, Geof. 79
HYMENOPTERA.
iEgilips abietiiia, DflA^t 226
subulifera. Thorns 226
Allotria melanogaster, Htg 227
Andiicus aistivalis, Gir. (?) 226
glandiuin, „ 83
Aphilothrix autumnalis, Htg 226
Bassus peroiiatus (sp. n.), T. A. 3rarshaH 194
Cladius lkulla3i, i)a/i/6 42
l)vv\\icn\, Thorns 228
Liiuneiia croccipes (sp. ii.), T. A. Marshall
194, 228
Macropbva albipunctata, -Fd// 228
Nematus'abiftiiiiis, i><(/i/i'> 227
albipeiiiiis, iT^MY; 227
baccanuii (sp. u.), Cameron 189
cadderunsis „ „ 127
crassipes, TAoms. ? 190
crassus, Fft/i 227
coiisobriim.'*, Voll 227
dorsatus, (sp. ii.), Cameron 129
fla\ i|)ciiiiis, ,, „ 1H9
buiiMTulis, Zctt 227
livpiiliiiicus, Thoiiis 227
P'latipes, J'///. 228
pallidiveiitris, Fall 227
puiictulatus, Z><jA/ft 227
Shar|pi (sp. Ji.), Cameron 191
stiiatus, JI/,, 227
Zettcrstedtii 7J<«A/fc 228
Peutacrita alliipi'iiiiis, Thoins 226
pciitiitoiiia. „ 226
Sapbolvtus apiralis //^/ 227
Stn)iigyl<);,'a-tcr ddicatulatiw, Fall 228
Tc'tiailiaptra tfti-attMiia, Thorns. 226
LEPIDOITERA.
Ablabia argftitana, r/ 85
Coliophora cniiy/a-, Zcll „ 164
Ebuli'a stacbydalis, >JirtcA- 168
Stignioiiota erectaiia (sji. n.), Barrett ... 8
NKUUOPTERA. Steuophylax rotuiidipoiinis, Braidr 65
LARV.E OF BRITISH SPECIES DESCRIBED IN THIS
VOLUME.
HYMENOPTERA.
PAOE
Abia sevicea, P.Cameron 111.
Cladius Brulisi, „ 42
Kematns caddeiensis (sp. n.), P. C.imeron 127 doi-satus „ „ 129
lutcus „ „ 130
LEPIDOPTERA.
A'^roteva ncznoraih, Ri'it. J. Hellins 232
Apli'cta occulta, Jf. .B«c-A:/er 67
Botys lancealis, G. T. Porritt 277
tei-realis, „ 209
PAGR
Cataclysta lemiialis, Tf^. Buckler 102
Cleora glabravia, „ 84
Hi'drocampa nymphEealis, IF. Buckler ... 210
Laveutia cresiata, Eev. J. Hellins 6
ruficiiictata, „ 5
Paraponyx stratiotalis, 7T^. .B?<cJ:7^ 160
Pterophorus dichiodactylus, „ 233
microdactylus, „ 234
rhododactylus, G. T. Porritt 88
Rhodophaea suavella, IF. Buckler 13
Xylina rhizolitha, „ 140
Xylomiges conspicillaris, C. Fenn 84
REVIEWS.
EntomologiscUo Nachricliten : Putbus
Serenth Aniiual R 'povt on the Noxious, &c., Insects of Missouri.— C. V. Rilej
The Lepidoptcrists' Calendar (2nd ed.). — J. MeiTin ...
North Staffordshire Naturalists' Field Club : Annual Addresses, &c.
The Naturalist ... ... ... ... ... , .
Field and Forest
Lepidoptera. — II. Strecker
Catalogue dcs Hemipteres d'Europe (2nd ed.). — Dr. Putou
OBITUARY.
Henry Doubleday Ludwig Rcdtenbacher Thomas Wilkinson ...
Psen ornatus. Wings of Sarcophaga oarnaria
mclanura
nurus
WOOD-CUTS.
44
44 69 69 90 90 141 167
69 238 279
186 220 261 266
ERRATA.
Page 2-4, line 11 from top,/or " pttnctifkons, Fall.," read " torneella, Zett." „ 25, „ 16 „ bottom, _/br " Fieb." read " Fab."
„ 44, „ 26 „ top,yor " Corrcspondingblatt " read " Correspondenzblatt." „ 46, „ 2 „ bottom, _/or "including" reocJ "excluding." „ 226, last two lines, and jiagc 227, first line, should be as follows : — " P. allipenni.t, Tiioinson, /. c, p. 399, 7, ? = Encoila fomentosa, Giraud." „ 230, above "SECTION A." put " DELTOCEPHALUS, Burm." „ 240, last line,ybr " concave " read " convex."
THE
^
,Ay VOLUME XII. ^'f^,'
7.
XOTES ON THE ENTOMOLOGY OF KERGUELEN'S ISLAND. BY THE EKV. A. E. EATOX, il.A.
l^ExtrnctciJ from the First Report of the JS'aturaJi.st attached to the Transit-of -Venus Expedition to Ker/jiieJens Island. Published in the I'roceedinf/s of the lioi/al Society, vol. \\\\\,j)p. 3'ji-355.]
The entomology of the Island is very interesting. Mosit of the larger insects seem to be incapable of flight. I have found repre- sentatives of the Orders Lepidopfera, Diptera, Culeoptera, and Col- lemhohi.
The Lcpidoptera comprise a species of the Noctuina (as I sup- pose) and one of the Tineina. Of the first, I have not yet reared the imago ; the larva is a moss-eater and subterranean ; the adult is probably as large as an Arjrotis of medium size. The species of Tineina is probably one of the Gelechiidce, judging from the form of the palpi, its larva feeds on young shoots of Festaca', and sometimes spins a silken cocoon for the pupa. The imago, of which the sexes are alike, has acute and very abbreviated wings, and the posterior pair extremely minute. In repose, the antenna) are widely separated and alinoKt divaricate. When the sun shines the adult is active, and, if alarmed, jumps to a distance of two or three inches at a time. During its passage through the air the wings are vibrated.
The Diptera are represented by species of the Tipalidw and Mus- cid(£. There are three of the former family. One of llicm is a species of Cecidomyiida, which is abundant in mossy places, and presents no marked peculiarity. Another seems to be a degraded member of the Tipulidce. The antennae have six joints, the pal[)i two ; the wings are ligulate and very minute. It possesses halteres, and the female has an ovipositor enclosed in an exposed sheath. Although it is unable to fly, it lives upon rocks in the sea which are covered at high water, and there it deposits its eggs in tufts of Entcromorphn. The third species has full-sized wings; it was caught in the house. The indigenous
B, 1875.
2 [JvHie,
Miiscidce are very sluggish in their movements, and are iiicapabk' of flight. Four species are common. One of them is abundant on Prinqlea, crawling over the leaves. When it is approached, it feigns to be dead, and, tucking up its legs, drops down into the axils of the leaves ; or, if it happens to be upon a plane surface, one need only look at it closely, and it throws itself promptly upon its back and remains motionless until the threatened danger is over, when it gradually ven- tures to move its limbs and struggle to regain its footing. Its wings are represented by minute gemmules, and it possesses halteres. The ovij)ositor is extended, its apical joint alone being retracted. The larva feeds upon decaying vegetable matter. Another species occurs on dead birds and mammals, as well as beneath stones near the highest tide-mark. It is completely destitute of even the vestiges of wings and halteres. It and the preceding species are rather smooth. A third species, slightly hairy, is common amongst tide-refuse and on the adjacent rocks, which are coated with Enteromoiylia, on which plant, inter alia, the larva feeds. It has very small triangular rudiments of wings, slightly cmarginate near the apex of the costa, and possesses halteres. The fourth species occurs amongst grass growing on the sea- shore and also in Shag-rookeries. Its linear and very narrow wings are almost as long as the abdomen. It can jump, but cannot fly.
A Piilex is parasitic upon Halidroma, and one (possibly the same) on DiomedeafuJiginosa.
Coleoptera are not uncommon. The larger species seem to have their elytra soldered together. There is a small species of the Srachelytra.
Several species of Ninnidw have been obtained.
Two Podurce (one black, the other white) are plentiful.
There appear to be few species of spiders, though individuals are numei'ous. Penguins and some of the other birds ax*e infested with ticks. The remaining Arachnida are related to Crihates.
NOTES OX JAPANESE RHOPALOCEEA, WITH DESCEIPTION OF A
NEW SPECIES.
BT THE BKV. R. P. MURRAY, M.A.
Since the publication, in December and January last, of my paper on Japanese butterflies, I have become possessed of a little more material, and venture to lay the following additional notes before the readers of Ent. Mo. Mag.
Colitis Hi/aJe, L. — I now possess a sinj^'le spn-iiiicii ol' this insect from Japan. It does not appear to differ from European' specimens of C. Hi/ah, except in its somewhat larger size ; and I have no doubt that it belongs to that species. I believe, however, that it is the form described by De I'Orza as C. Slmoda.
Pier is Melete, Men. — This is a most variable species, and I have no doubt that a long series of specimens, collected at different seasons of the year, and from various localities, would prove most interesting. Some of the females are much darker than others. The insect varies much in size ; the smallest ^ in my cabinet expands 2" 4 ", the largest (also a S) 3".
Leucophasia atnurensis, Men. — Taken in September on " a dry mountain slope bare of trees," at the base of Fujiyama. This species is usually considered to be a variety of X. sinapis, L., but the very peculiar elongated wings seem to entitle it to specific rank.
Ljjccena Argus, L. — Taken, I believe, in the same locality as the last mentioned species.
Danais Tytia, Gray. — The existence of this W. Himalayan species in Japan (previously noticed by Motschoulsky) is very curious. Fapilio Af/esfor, Gray, which so closely mimics it in its Indian home, has not yet, so far as T know, been detected in Japan.
Lethe, Hiibn. — I fear that this genus will for some time prove a stumbling block to Japanese lepidoptcrists As far as I at present understand it, the Japanese species should stand as follows: —
L. Sicelis, Hew. — The males of this species may be distinguished by the tuft of long silky hair arising from near the extremity of the liiud-wing cell.
L. Diann, Butler. — Male with long silky hair arising from the i)iner margin of fore-wing.
L. Whiteh'i/i, Butler. — The type in Brit. Mus., a male, is in a very worn condition. I possess two females, apparently referable to this species. If it were not that the type is, according to Mr. Butler, a male, I should have considered my specimens as females of L. Diana. They agree very fairly with Bremer's figure of Las. Maacki, except that the marginal spots on nppcr-sidc of liiiul-wing an- obsolcle, or neai'ly so. This latter species is cited by Motschoulsky (Bull, de la Soc. Imp. de Moscou, ISGG) as synonymous with his Sati/rus mnrqinalis, which is enumerated in Kirl)y's catalogue as doulit fully distinct from L. Diana, Butl.
Neope sp. nov.? — Three specimens of this species were sent home by Mr. Fryer, one of which is now in my possession. I believe it to be undescribed, but as my specimen is in very poor condition, T hardly like to describe it.
4 l-)"»e.
Vuiietisa xaidhojiielas, \V. \ ., oi* l'. polyvhlorus, L.'r--Thc' .lapaiicijc spoc-imens in the perfect state seem to agx'ee best with V. xanthomelas, hut I learn that the larva is an elm-feeder, herein agreeing with Ihat of V. polijcJdoros. Species of Silix, to which, in Europe, V. xan- thomeJas is supposed to confine itself, ai'e numerous in Japan. A Himalayan example in my collection, referred by Mr. Moore to V. xantliomelas^ seems to me much more like V. poli/Moros. I am very doubtful whether the two species be really distinct.
Ismene Benjammi, Gruer., vr/r. jajwnica, Mihi.- — Differs from Indian examples in wanting the dark shade which suffuses all the outer portion of the fore-wings in typical examples.
Famphila /Si/lvanus, Esp. — Japanese specimens attain a much larger size than European. The largest in my collection expands 1'' 9'".
Pamphila flaa'A, sj}. n. — -A/is siqrra hrunneis^flavo-notatis : suhtiia 'paUidiorihus, posficisjlaviif, hriinneo-maculatis. Antennis hamatis.
Hah. : Juponia. Exp. alar., 1" 2"' — 1" 4'".
Upper-side. Eore-wings dark brown : base dusted with yellow : costal, inner-marginal and median yellow streaks from the base, the latter expanding into a rather large yellow spot at the end of cell, above which are two yellow dashes, boi'dering the first sub-costal nervule. Beyond the middle is a conspicuous yellow band, divided into spots by the veins : the fourth and fifth are displaced, as in the allied species, and situated much nearer the hind-margin. Hind-wing : dark brown : a yellow spot near base, and a smaller one above it, near the costa : a conspicuous yellow band beyond the middle, reaching from sub-median to sub-costal nervures. The small costal spot before men- tioned may be considered as an upward continuation of this band. The brown portions of both wings are more or less dusted with yellow. Fringe yellow, cut with fuscous, especially on fore-wing.
Under-side. Eore-w ing : paler than above : only the costal streak from base present, which reaches to the sub-costal dashes corresponding to those existing on the upper surface : discoidal nervule bordered, often broadly, with ochreous, along the basal half of its course : apical portion of hind-margin ochreous. Hind-wing : brown, thickly dusted with ochreous except at anal angle, where is a large brown patch, extending in a narrow streak to the base. Spots as above, but with an additional basal spot above the cell. The transverse band is bounded outwardly by a more or less distinct zigzag brown line.
Allied to F. Augias, L.
This is the species referred to in my former paper as P. Dora (?), Ivoll. Further investigation has convinced me that it is distinct ; nor can I find it described by any other author. It seems to be a common species near Yokohama. Beckenham : May, 1875.
1575.1 .■;
XATLKAL HISTORY OF LAllKyTI.L JiCFU'JyCTATA, ON., AND
L. CJiSIATA, W. V.
BT THE REV. J. HELLIIVS, M.A.
I was very glad to receive eggs of ruficinctnta last August from ]\[r. Carrington, and in March, having failed to bring my larvae through the winter, I was still more glad to have my loss made good by I\Irs. Hutchinson ; and I am now able to give a tolerably full account of this species, and to compare some of its stages with ccesiata. The result of this comparison will be to show that they stand vejy much in the same relation to one another as exists in the genus Me- lanippe between rivata and stihtristata.
I received eggs of rufictnctatu on August loth ; the larv;e hatched on 21st, and at first fed well on liowers of various stoueci'ops and saxifrages, but when the flowers were past, would not touch the leaves ; however, Mrs. Hutchinson found that the leaves of S. hypnoides (a species I could not obtain) were readily eaten, and on that plant kept her larvae through the winter, and on February 19th, she kindly sent me some of them, then just moulting for the last time ; these spun up during the last week of March and the first ten days of April, and the first moth came out 3'^esterday, May 17th ; from the moths of this first flight the larvae are found full-fed (and have been sent to Mr. ]^uckler) in July ; and the second flight of moths is out at the beginning of August : ruficlnctata therefore is double brooded, one brood going through all its transformations iu the period between the middle of May and the beginning of August, and the other taking up the rest of the twelve months, chiefly in the larval stage.
The egg is rather long-oval in outline, full, with one end blunted ; the shell ])itted all over with irregular reticulation ; the colour (when I received the eggs from Mr. Carrington) light bright red; afterwards dingy ; the young larva is pale olive, with broad dorsal and finer waved sub-dorsal darker liiu's ; head shining black, the blackish dots each set with a long lu'istlc soiucwhal clublicd at the tip: iu about a month (with the secojid ])rood, that is) the dorsal pattern begins to appear,, the colour otherwise being diirk brownish: the larva^ that came to me in spring were about half grown, witli the dorsal pattern well de- veloped. The full grown larva is six-eighths of an inch long, in figure tliick set, tapering from the fifth segment to head, which is small and rounded, and tapering, but not so much, from the tenth to tail ; when viewed sideways rather flattened; divisions well marked; sl<iii wrinkly; the usual dots distinct as minute raised warts with longisji hairs. In colour there are three varieties knowu to me :
f) [.lunu,
A. Ground colour on biu-k dark purplisii-gi'ey, w ith a doi'.sal I'ow of
seven As pointing forwards on segments 5-11, and sometimes an eighth and ninth A — but small and imperfect — on segments 4 and 'S ; these marks are outlined by very dark velvety brown lines, and of the space enclosed by them the apex is pale yellow, and the base pale rose-red, the dorsal line appearing here as a short stripe of deeper opaque red; on segments 2, 3, 12, and 13, the dorsal line is continuous and dark reddish ; the head darker than the ground, and freckled ; the belly dull reddish-brown ; the spiracular region tinged with ochreous ; the small round spiracles blackish.
B. Ground colour rather subdued green, with the dorsal markings
rather brighter than in A ; the head freckled with brownish ; belly pale green ; spiracular line ochreous.
C. Ground colour pale olive-green, but varied with a suffusion of dark
rich red on either side of the back, most intense where it touches
the pale yellowish spiracular line ; the belly dull greenish.
The pupa, enclosed in a very slight cocoon on the surface of the eoil, is barely half-inch long, smooth and cylindrical, tapering off gradually to the tail, which ends in a spike with a fine forked spine ; the skin very glossy ; the colour pale golden-brown, darker towards the tail.
Some years ago I reared ccesiata from the egg, but preserved no record of the egg, or young larva ; at that time I bred the moths in the end of May and beginning of .Tune, but I do not know for certain whether this shows there are two broods, or only that the moth has a long flight ; Mr. J. Eatty, who has more than once sent me the larva>, tells me he believes there is but one brood of moths, most abundant in July ; anyhow, from these the larva; are hatched in August, feed chiefly on whortleberry, but will also eat ling, hibei-nate, and do not feed up till May, some even holding on till June.
The larva when full grown is seven-eighths of an inch long, not so stumpy to look at as rujicinctata, more cylindrical, tapei-ing less rapidly to the head, which, however, is small and rounded ; the bristles emitted by the dots shorter than in rujicinctata. In colour thei'e are two varieties known to me :
A. Ground colour on back deep red-chocolate ; a dorsal row of seven A-< pointing forward on segments 5-11, with imperfect ones on 4 and 12, much resembling those of rujicinctata, being outlined with dark brown, and the interior being also yellow in front and pink behind, but they are both more extensive in size, and brighter in lint; the segmental divisions are tinged with green; the dorsaj line is almost couliiiuous, but varying in colour, being brownish-
f IS7S.1 7
red or more pinkisli, in agi't'cini'iil with the .surrounding ^kill ; at the segmental divisions it is bordered by two short whitish dashes, as are also two pairs of fine lines which run on either side of it, so that at the divisions there is quite a marked feature in these white dashes ; the spiracular line is clear and distinct, in colour white or pale yellow ; the spiracles are black ; the head dark red- dish, freckled with greenish ; the belly dark brown.
B. Ground colour a deep bright green, dorsal markings very bright by contrast; head as before ; belly full green ; spiracular line white, or pale yellow; anal Hap and anal legs purplish. This is a very beautiful form of the larva, and seems to be developed at the last moult ; an example now feeding was quite reddish-brown till it moulted.
The pui)a, enclosed in a slight cocoon, but apparently more com- plete than that oi.riijicinctafa, is about half-inch long, cylindrical, and rather slender; the eyes rather prominent ; the skin very glossy ; iu colour almost olive on the wings ; golden on the abdomen; the eyes, abdominal rings, and end of tail dark brown. 1 should much like to hear some decisive statements on the question of this species being single or double brooded.
Exeter : IStU Mai/, 1S75.
NOTES ON BRITISH TORTRICES.
BY C. G. BARRETT. {continued from Vol. Tii,p. 196).
.Stiumoxota xitiuana, Tab., and Wkiraxa, Uougl. — I feel now in a position to give a decided opinion as to the distinctness of these two species. My friend, M. E. L. Kagonot, has been able to rear both species at Paris, and has, with his usual kindness, connnunicated specimens, and information on both, to me. In his specimens of JVeirann, the markings, which are faintly visible in some few of our native specimens, become comparatively bright and distinct, and form excellent distinguishing characters.
In nilidnnn the pale fascia beyond the basal patch is elbowed fihove the fold, consequently its angle is neai-er to the costal than to llu! dorsal margin, and its inferior arm is the longer.
In Weiraiia the fascia is angulated hdoio the middle of the wing, the angle is more obtuse, and its superior arm is the longer.
In nitidana the face is whitish, and the markings on the fore-wings bright and silvery.
In Weirana the face is pale grey, and tlie markings duller and more leaden.
g fjuiic,
111 nifiddiia the biiKl-wiiigs are pale at tlie base, becoiniiig ihirker towards the hind-margin.
In JVeirana they are entirely dark grey. In this species, also, the fore-wings are broader and more rounded than in nitidana, and it is altogether a larger, duller, and more smoky-looking species.
M. Ragonot w'rites me : " JVitidann, whether captured about oaks " or bred from the cocoons, is quite constant in colour and size, and is " smaller than Weirana, and narrower winged. JVeirana, bred from " beech, is quite constant in size and colour, though some hare more " distinct markings than others."
I think, therefore, that their distinctness is fully proved, and in this Prof. Zeller, after seeing M. Ragonot's specimens, concurs.
The specimens oijlfxana sent me by Zeller, although more brightly marked than even the Parisian sjiecimens, are also clearly identical with Weirann, and it will therefore be necessary to adopt JJcxana, Z., as the name of this species, as it has one year's prioritv' over fVeirann, Dougl.
The climatal variation of this species is curious and very interesting, and deserves further investigation.
Prom Loi'd Walsingham I have received, for examination, a beautiful Tortrix belonging to this genus, but apparently distinct from any described species, and so well marked that I venture to describe it as a novelty.
Stigmonota erectana, sp. n. Alar, cxp., 4^ lines. — Head, palpi, and antennae, dark brown, thorax olive-brown. Fore-wings rich dark brown, paler towards ihe base, and with a faint olive tinge. Markings silvery-white, consisting of a perpendicular dorsal blotch reaching two- thirds across the wing, immaculate, sharply defined interiorly, squared at the apex, and slightly toothed exteriorly, and four pairs of costal streaks, the second pair produced into a narrow angulated fascia beyond the dorsal blotch, and reaching the anal angle, the lower arm being nearly perpendicular to the margin, slightly dilated, and bril- liantly white. Between this and the dorsal blotch is the almost invisible ocellus. There is a square pale spot in the cilia below the apex, the remainder of the cilia being grey with a dark line at the base.
Hind-wings very pale grey at the base, darker at the margin and on the nervures. Cilia Avhite.
Of the size and form of internana, and similar in markings, except that the dorsal blotch is ei-ect, and contains no dark lines.
Taken by the Hon. Beatrice de (xrey among broom (Sparthtm scojxirium) iu Xorfolk.
(Tu be conliuuedj.
DESCRIPTION OF A NEW Sl'EClES OF MlMATUS FROM CORSICA. BY P. CA.\rERON, JUN.
Nematus MAHsiiAM-r, sp. n.
K. iiitidiis, lufriin, aiifen/iis Jo)i(/is, capite, ore excepto, meso- et metn- noto, tarsisqtie jjo.sticis, nirjris ; alts J'tinuitis, ttiif/mate testaceo.
Lour/, fere 3 lin.
? . AiiteniisD ns long as the body, black, the 3rd niul Itli joints cquuL Ilead black, sliitiiiig, covered very sparingly with down ; pronotum lutcous ; teguke pale liiteous. Abdomen almost shorter than the liead and thorax, entirely lutcous, except the basal segment, which is broadly black in the middle ; the apex acuminate, hairy, the sheaths of the saw black. Feet pale hit ecus, the apices of the posterior femora (faintly) and tibiae, as well as the tarsi, black ; the posterior calcaria dark luteous moderately long ; the tibiae thickened at the end, and grooved inwardly. The pos- terior legs are longer than the body. Wings smoky, the nervures deep black ; tiie costa and stigma testaceous. The 1st sub-marginal nervure is absent ; the 2nd recurrent is received in front of the 2nd sub-marginal ; the 3rd sub-marginal cell is nuich broader at tho apex than at the base.
This inst'ct is not unlike Xemntus fumipeiinis^'i^tc. (ventralis, JItg., nee Pz.), but, not to mention other marks of distinction, that species has the wings much darker coloured, and the stigma is black at the base.
Taken in Corsica by the Eev. T. A. Marshall, after whom I have much pleasure in naming it.
136, West G-rahara Street, Glasgow : February, 1875.
DESCRIPTION OF THREE NEW BUTTERFLIES.
by w. c. iiewitson, f.l.s.
Leptalis Medorina.
Upper-side : male, dark brown. Anterior wing crossed by two mactilnr Ijunds of yellow : the first of two spots at the middle, the second sub-npical of three .spots. Posterior wing with the costal margin (except a polished spot of white) and a central band whicli is united with it yellow.
Under-side : yellow. Anterior wing with the central band of spots as above : the inner half polished and marked by a white spot. Posterior wing irrorated with brown and marked by eight or nine white spots.
Exp., 2-j'jj inch. Ilab., Bolivia (Buckley).
In the collection of W. C. Hewitson.
Nearly allied to L. Medorrt, from which it differs on tho upper-side by having the central band of the anterior wing brokeJi: on ihe under- side by the white spots of the po.slerior wing.
10 •luiie
Leptalis IIippotas.
Upper-side : uialo, })lack. Anterior wing with a small spot before the middle, a band of three spots, two of which are bifid at the middle, and a sub-apical band of three spots all white. Posterior wing with the costal margin (which is polished) and a band at tlie middle (ending near tlic middle of the outer margin in a separate triangular spot) white.
Under-side : lilac-grey irrorated with dark brown. Anterior wing with the white spots as above, the inner margin polislied and marked by a white spot. Posterior wing tinted with yellow in the middle, and marked by several white spots : one of them near the costal margin, a central band of ten spots, and one below them.
Exp., 2/5 inch. Ilab., Ecuador (Buckley).
Ill the collection of W. C. Hewitson.
Eeebia Meeila.
Upper-side: dark brown. Anterior wing wilh two black spots near the apex, one large (as if composed of three ocelli), and marked by three minute white spots placed in a triangle : the other spot (which is below it) small and marked by one minute white spot : the whole bordered by pale brown.
Under-side : as above.
Exp., 2 inches. Ilab., New Zealand.
In the collection of Herman Strecker.
This species is in form more like Argyrojyiienga than it is to the European species of Erehia, amongst which it resembles most E. Ecias and E. Sewitsonii. I am indebted to tlio kindness of Mr. Strecker of Pennysylvania for the pleasure of addiiit; another species to the meagre list of New Zealand butterflies.
Outlands, Weybridge,
April, 187-i.
ON THE FONDNESS OF ANTS FOR CERTAIN HOMOPTERA.
BY PROFESSOK FEDEEIGO DELPIXO,
Of Vallombrosa, near Florence.
\_Transhited from the Bn.lletthw ilella Societa Entomologica ItaJiana,
1875, pp. 61-64..]
In 1873 in the garden at Paterno, near Vallombrosa, were two very robust plants of cardoon (Cij tiara carJunculus), distant from one another about 10 steps. A little further, in another plot, were several plants of artichoke {Ci/naru scoli/mus).
Towards the middle of May, on examining the two plants of cardoon, I remarked on both of them a tolerable number of lar\te of
\ <::,.] 11
Tfftiijomitra in various degrees of development, wiiieli were dwelliiif^ under the protection of a Furmicrt, hwt not oi F. puhcsceiis {wh^c]!! liad previously* observed takinj^ charge of Tettigometra vlrescens), but of a smaller species. The idea occurred to me to sec if there were any similar larva? on the artichoke plants, and, in fact, I found some there, but these were under the protection of a third species of ant, a Myrmica.
In June I revisited the cardoon plants. The THfigomrircc had considerably increased in numbers, and this time they were guarded by Formica puhescens, which had driven away the smaller species of Formica, which I had noticed there before. Again I noticed that the Tcttigometrte were in various stages of development.
In July the larvae of Tettigomefra had increased in numbers more than ever, and were si\\\ xindiQY iYio. \)YotQi-\.\ow oi Formica puhescens. The protected individuals showing still in this month various degrees of develo2)ment. This circumstance had led me in the preA'ious year to the conjecture that like the Aphides, the Tettigometrce were capable of parthogenesis ; but this conjecture was erroneous, since I observed this time scattered here and there on the cardoon plants some heaps of eggs of Tettigometra.
Towards the end of August, revisiting these plants, I was at once struck by several unexpected phenomena. Mixedalong with the larvte of the Tettigometra, which, as is well known, are green, there Avas a profusion of black larva?, differing not only in colour, but also in form, and besides which, they were very sluggish, and with little or no power of leaping. Perfectly intermixed with the Tettigometrce, and living iu the greatest harmony with them, these were also under the protection of Formica pnhescens, to which they exuded from the anus from time 1.) lime a drop of saccharine liquid. My first impression was that I had hei-e a singular instance of larval dimorphism ; but, on more mature consideration, and after having duly reflected on the great difference in the form of the body and in their agility, I came to the conclusion that I had before me the larvrc of another s])ecies of CicadeJUna cu- joving, lil<c the Tettiijometrce, the same harmonious relations with the ants. I was not, however, able to ascertain with certainty to what genua these table-companions and allies of the Tettigometrce should be referred. But I noticed several times, and in both the cardoon plants, the presence of adult Cicadellincc, winged, brown, and of comijaratively large size. These had precisely the ap])earance and cdiaracters of the genus Issun, and were in all probability the parents of the black larvaj.
• nuUcttiiio rlcUa Socicti Ent. Italiana, 18T2, p. 343.
12 I.Tiine,
The Hocks of cuttle of these ants were thus not only increased in numbers but also in species. Another thing which somewhat surprised me, was that the ants, in order to be easily within reach to assist and defend their cattle, had excavated in several parts of the stalk and of the larger ribs of the leaf true guard-houses of an ingenious structure. Each had an opening sufficiently wide to admit the passage of the largest Tpttujomcira. This opening led to a gallery excavated in the pith of the stalk to the depth of four inches or more. Besides this main opening, there were hollowed out two or three very small holes, with what object I cannot say, but 2>i'obably with the view of ven- tilating the domicile, a current of air passing from the larger opening to the smaller ones. The greater part of the Tettigometrce remained outside these shelters, but some had penetx'ated within and had also deposited eggs there.
The cardoon plaiits, strange as it may seem, which had been con- tinuouslv punctured for months by the larvie of Tciliciomctra and Issus, and which were also pricked and sucked by the ants, as 1 had several times observed, and which had long galleries excavated in the pith, were notwithstanding in a most vigorous state of vegetation and fruiting most copiously, thus showing that they suffered little or nothing from the presence of so many visitors.
The affection of the individuals of Formica puheHcens for these colonics of Tcttigomctra and Issns is truly great. It was evidently with the intention of watching better over them that these habitations had been excavated. The lives of these cattle of theirs are exposed to the attacks of many enemies. I observed spiders, Coccinellce, and ichneumons. I found one ichneumon of proportionate size, dead, with its abdomen torn, which had probably been the work of these guardians.
On the whole it would appear from these phenomena that in Cynara carduncidus and C. sco/i/mus, which is probably only a variety induced by cultivation, we have a true species of European Eormi- carium, comparable to a certain point and analogous to the Myrmecodium and Hydnophythum of Asia, and to the Tococa and Mojeta of America. One thing seems certain, that on a plant on which the ants have fixed their abode, caterpillars and other foes to vegetables cannot also occur. Hence we have here an example, unique as far as we know, of a "quadruple alliance" between four different beings, that is between Cynara cardunculus, Trftiyomctra, Iiisus and Formica.
May I2lh, 1874.
Peroiiea Lipsiana, ifc, at iril/iei'slack.—Ou tlif 19th April, the wcatUfi- lu'lii^ hot and fine, I paid a visit for a couple of days to my favourite huutiug-grounds, in company with luy friend ^Ir. Thrclfall. Polyommattis Argioltis was plentiful on the lioUies, and many Gonepteryx rhanuii, botli niak's and females, were (lying about on the moss side ; during the hot sunshine Dasy.stoma salicella flew briskly about, whilst Jlicropieryx pitrpurella and unimaculella were in fine condition amongst the birches. BiUalis incongrueUa was started several times, but it seemed scarcer than usual ; of Feronea Lipsiana we found two well-marked specimens, also two Depress- or ia capreolella, four Gracilaria phasianipennella ; a few Amphisa prodromana, Teronea mixlana, Cnephasia lepidana, Semioscopis avellanella and Sleinkellneriaiia, all had a fly in the hot morning sun. Lobophora lobulata was sticking on the trunks of the trees ; Eupithecia pumilata was quite common and very fine. The rare Dipteron, JSmpis borealis, was hawking about after flies and moths, occasionally worrying one another ; the local and rare yj/jw/a fl//jj»a was in its favourite haunt on the rocks, and I pointed out the place to my young friend Mr. Threlfall, lest its habitat might be lost when I leave these hunting-grounds for the unknown ones. — J. I'j. IIoDGKiXc-ox, 15, Spring Bank, Preston, Lancasliire : April 'loth, 1875.
Capture of Jlicropteryx salopiella, <^'c., at Wilherslaclc. — I revisited Wither- elack on the 2ud May ; it was a bitterly cold day, and all I coiJd obtain was a solitary Micropteryx salopiella. The next day there was a little sun, and I captured nine more : when fine it is a charming species. I did not meet with a single speci- men of M. SparmanneUa ; I saw single specimens of several Tortrices, such as Clepsis rusticana, Anchylopera ungiiicella ; and Glyphipteryx Maworlhana was common amongst the cotton-grass, and I met with one fine Gracilaria phasiani- pennella (hibernated, I suppose). Several species of Ornix, Nepticula, and Litho- colletis were out, and I noticed some very young larvae of P^eroj^AorH* tephradactylus on the golden-rod ; I am told that the larva of this species feeds up in the autumn in the south of England. — Id. : May \Oth, 1875.
The first white butterfly ^which is it 1 — Many may be disposed to stare at such a simple question, but my reason for putting it is this : — Writing to Professor Zeller on the 23rd April, I happened to mention that I had seen Pieris rapce on the wing in Scotland on the 16th, 18th, 19th, and 20th of April. In his reply came the observation, "I am struck with your remark that you have seen Pieris rapce on the wing — with us the first butterfly which emerges from the pupa is P. napi, and it is not for two or tlirce weeks later that P. rapa makes its appearance. Perhaps you have written the wrong name, or is the matter reversed in Scotland ? I begin, however, no longer to be surprised wlu-n I find that one's experience gained in one locality would prove false if applied to other situations."
My English readers will not be surprised to hear that I assui'cd Professor Zeller " that, in England as well as in Scotland, rapes always precedes napi — I should say, on an average, by ten or fourteen days." I confess I have not yet seen napi this year. — H. T. Stainton, Mountsfield, Lcwisham, S.E. : May Wth, 1875.
Description of the larva, Si'c, of Khodophcea snavella. — On Maj- 27lh, 1871,1
1 |. Juno,
Imd tlic ]ileasure to receive several larvje, wliicli proved to be this species, found in Herefordshire by Dr. J. H. Wood, who also most kindly furnished me with many interesting particulars of their habits.
The young larviE were detected on stunted sloe bushes, at first feeding on the loaves under a whitish web, and on becoming larger they constructed along the branches silken galleries more or less covered with their long narrow pellets of frass, neatly arranged side by side.
As they occurred on a sheep-walk, wool was found adhering to the bushes and sometimes to the webs of the larvte, thus forming a rather tangled mass ; faded rem- nants of leaves, silk, and wool being matted together, and amongst all this their galleries lay, making it difficult to trace them ; not that the presence of wool seemed to be neeessai-y, but was only worked through when the larva found it in their way, many of the galleries being quite free from wool.
The full grown larva, when stretched out, varies from a little over five-eighths to nearly six-eighths of an inch in length, cylindrical, slender, tapering but very little in front, though the head is a trifle less than the second segment, while from the eleventh to the anal extremity it tapers gradually; the head in outline is full and rounded, and its surface roughened ; each segment beyond the fourth is sub-divided across the back by a deep wrinkle into two portions, the greater portion being in front, another wrinkle sub-divides the hinder portion, but only on the sides of the segments; the spiracular region is inflated and puckered ; the ventral legs are much beneath the body.
The colour of the roughened head is dark brown, with the base of the papillae and a transverse streak above the mouth brownish-grey, the sui-face glistening ; the plate on the second segment and that on the anal tip are both black and shining, the rest in the young stage rather olive-brown, afterwards becoming deep chocolate- brown ; the skin smooth but without gloss, the ventral legs semi-transparent, the anterior legs spotted willi black ; the occllatcd spot on the side of the third and twelfth segments is brownish-gi'ey with a black centre, the hair from it being longer than that which proceeds from each of the usual tubercular situations, but all the hairs are alike in being dark brown, fine, and pointed ; the small circular spiracles are of the ground colour.
By the 19th of June the larva? had spun themselves up amongst the twigs of sloe in greyish silken cocoons, one of which, on the 22nd of the month, I cut open, and found the pupa to be three-eighths of an inch in length, of moderate plumpness, thickest in the middle ; the wing-cases long, the abdomen bluntly tipped and ter- minating with seven most minute bristles curved at their extremities : in colour it was a deep mahogany-brown, the abdominal divisions darker brown, the whole surface very glossy. Four moths were bred on July 19th and 20th.
Another fact in the economy of suavella remains to be mentioned, that it i.s not confined to sloe, but is also found on hawthorn bushes ; Dr. Wood having taken some larvse from them on a common, which were kept separate, and finally produced this species. He also noticed in the instance of two or three larvae that had been disappointed in pupating, and were wandering about amongst the twigs of sloe, that they had become tinged with greenish, and wanted earth to make up in. — William Buckler, Kmsworth : May '[Slh, 1875. *
IS. -5. 15
Probable discoveiy of the imago of Helicopntfche in Europe. — In vol. ii of tins Magazine, p. 252 (April, 186(1), Dr. Hagen announced that the imago of a Tri- choptcrous insect, of which tlio larva manufacturetl the form of cases known as Jlelicopsi/c/ie, had been bred in IN'orth America, and gave figures and characters (the spur-formula was en'oneously given as 2, 4, 4, it should have been 2, 2, 4). But no known European insect agi-eed generically with this, although HeUeopxifche cases occur in the South of Europe. Very recently Prof. Costa, of Naples, forwarded to me a few Trichoptera, and among them is what I believe to be Melicopsyche ; al- t hough the number and conditions of the individuals are not such as to enable me to make the dissections with the exactitude I could wish. It is a small, black, intensely pubescent insect, agreeing with the American species in palpi, spur-formula, &c., and, I think, also in neuration, though I am obliged to leave this somewhat un- certain for want of materials. Decidedly it belongs to no hitherto known European genus. — R. McLachlax, Lewisham : April otk, 1875.
Capture of Tropistelhus holo.iericeus at Riddle.idown. — On the 17th April I spent two or three hours in shaking the moss that grows under the juniper bushes at this place, but the only good species of Jleteroptera I saw was Tropistelhus holosericeus, Scholz, and of this but two examples, both of them mutilated. Indeed, such was tlie condition of nearly all of the few hibernated Ileiiiiptera I found ; this result, and former experience of hunting in winter-quarters in Ajiril, lead to the conviction that to obtain quantity and quality the search should not be delayed beyond March. The species is scarce, and the locality for it new. — J. W. Douglas, Lee : April 27th, 1875.
Capture of Ulopa decussata, $ . — At the same time and place as the foregoinof, among the small bits of earth resulting from the shaking of moss, I caught sight of a ITomopterous form lying motionless on the paper. This at first I took to be the common Paropia scanica, and was inclined to throw it away, but the small size and dark colour (the latter exactly that of the earth on whicli tlie insect rested) induced me to inspect the creature closely, and by the rounded form of the homl I tlien saw I had made the acquaintance of a stranger. Mr. Scott says it is Ulopa decussata, Germ., and I believe he is correct. Fieber puts this as the $ of U. trivia, Germ., of which only a single British examplr, in tlic collection of Mr. Dale, is known (E. M. M., vii, 272).— Id.
Notes on Mr. Scudder's " Historical Sketch of the Generic names proposed for Butterflies." — Mr. Scudder has kindly sent me the above valuable contribution to the Study of Nomenclature, and I think all entomologists must agree that, as regards the painstaking manner in which the subject is treated, it does him infinite credit ; but, at the same time, I feel satisfied that lie will not be alto^etlu'r followed; I should, personally, be disinclined to agree willi him in every point, for the following reasons : —
1st. — I am sure that at the outset Mr. Scudder has made a great mistake in being guided in his choice of types by the purely fancifiU or accidental restrictions of genera subsequent to their institution. To put an extreme case, we will suppose that A describes a genus in the Linnean sense (that is, containing many genera) ; a
shorl f liiif iif'torwaril.s, B publishes h list of species collectetl by himself during a siiunuer trip, among tliem lie mentions a species originally quoted amongst the representatives of A's genus ; according to Mr. Scudder, B thus accidentally fixes the type of A's genus, and becomes famous ; this may sound like nonsense, but sub- stitute catalogue list for collector's list, and this is precisely what Mr. Scudder has done.* I can see no reason why, in a question of types, the restrictive system should not be thorough, therefore I think Mr. Scudder should look up all the entomological pamphlets and serials issued since the time of Linnteus, and see if he cannot find an earlier restriction of such groups as Papilio, Pieris, or Hesperia. I feel quite hopeful of his success.
2ud. — I regret to hare to say it, but Mr. Scudder is not quite consistent ; he objects to one geiuis ou the ground of its not having been characterized (seep. 250), whilst he sinks another because its type has previously had an uncharactized generic name applied to it (Ancliyphlebia for instance) ; he, moreover, occasionally rejects a genus for another reason, the case being as follows : — A describes a genus in which he places three or four species ; B describes the same szenus with one or two additional species, and under another name ; C sinks B's genus very properly as a synonym of A's ; D finds that B's genus contained heterogeneous material, and founds a new genus for one or two of the species included in B's group : in comes Mr. Scudder at this point, and upsets D's genus as a synonym of B'sf (as examples, see CallitoRra, HerpcBnia, and NychitonaJ .
Mr. Scudder departs from his own rule in the case of Pieris, for in 1805, as he himself shows, this genus was restricted, and P. rapcB was omitted from the list of species ; yet, according to Scudder, P. rapce may be considered the type.
3rd. — If we were to accept all the genera which are permitted to stand in the ' Historical Sketch,' we should be obliged to separate species which differ in no structural characters, and thus genera would become (as some entomologists assert that they arc) jjurely artificial and unnatural conveniences for grouping together a small number of allied species.
4th. — It is not reasonable to accept, as the type of a genus, a species to which the author's diagnosis is not at all applicable ; therefore Mr. Scudder's views of Hesperia and Lasiommata cannot be adopted.
5th. — In some instances the original, and at other times the corrected, spelling of certain names is to be preferred ; therefore, I should suggest that Pinacopteryx and Pyrisitia should not be altered to Picanopteryx and Pyristia, and that tiie incorrect forms Daptonoiira, Eulaceura, and Mitoura.X shovdd not be restored to the genera Dapionura, JSulacura, and Mitura. Mr. Scudder justifies the restoration of the spelling Mitonra on the plea that " it is derived from 'Mifos' and 'oura,' " but I think wlu'n Mr. Rye made the correction lie was fully aware of this fact.
6th. — Although notes are inserted in the 'Sketch ' up to March, 1875, several of my own genera are omitted : —
Pal.5:ontmph.\, Trans. Ent. Soc, 1871, type P. opallna. Ancistroides, „ „ „ 1874, „ A. longicomis.
Pbeudeeesia, „ „ „ „ „ P. catharina.
Probably other authors may be able to add to these desiderata.
* See Xenicu and other genera ; of cour.se I feel were the shoe pinches ray own coma first.
t I may here call attention to Scudder's notes on the genera Pleroarua, Tanaoittera, and others.
} I.oiily quote these as examples. 0
1875. 17
In oouoliHion I woiikl aiUl lliat, as oiu' wlio li:is a "ival regavil t\.r Mr. SimkUIit, I offer those renmrk.s in no captious spirit ; indeed, I looii upon all scieiitifie criticisms as oiTered in a professional, and therefore purely friendly, character ; and I should lie exceedingly sorry to think that ctcu my adversaries as entomologists were not my friends as men. — Akthur G. Butler, 17, Oxford Road, Ealing : 19th April, 1875.
On kilUnj and preserving Hymenoptera. — The neglect of these insects has, to a certain degree, a reason : viz., — that collections of them, such as one generally sees, pre- sent anything but a charming picture, as the insects arc unequally pinned, some high, some low, with antenna;, legs, and wings stretched out in all directions, or, on the contrary, pressed to the side like the limbs of a mummy. The neglect on the aesthetic side is also a great disadvantage in a scientific point of view, as it increases the ditficnlties, great enough already, in naming the species. For instance, how is it p issible to ascertain the distinction between the veins of the wings if the wings lie on the top of each other on the body ; or, how can one examine the structure of tlie meta-thorax and the abdomen, if these parts are covered by the wings ; or the characteristic mark of the legs (for instance, the marks on the fore-leg of many male Megachile, &c.), if the tibiae lie on the thighs, or the legs are all contracted ? What a nuisance it often is to determine the species or genus of such a creature ; whereas, it could be told in a moment if the sj)ecimen was in a good state of preservation.
To obviate this evil, and to cause the care in treatment which is due to the Hymenoptera to be given to the order, 'such as is bestowed on beetles and butterflies, I take the liberty to make public my method of arranging Hymenoptera for a collection, it being the residt of thirty years' practice.
As the mode of killing is of great importance, as preparatory to preserving, I cannot help touching briefly upon it. Sulphuric ether, chloroform, benzine, and cj'anide of potassium, are the means of producing death, which are generally made use of. But all the ways have the same inconvenience ; — that the limbs become very soon tender and stiff, whereby the chance of preserving them is made very difficult, if not impossible.
I speak strongly against cyanide of potassium for two reasons ; first, because with this highly dangerous poison a slight want of care may cause a misfortune ; and, secondly, because it works strongly on the colour of the insect ; for instance, it changes beautiful yellow into red, whereby the insect cannot be recognised, and often gives rise to a new pseudo-species, as we already have in the Amhlyleles regius, which is nothing mm'c nor less than A. fascialorius {vide Stettin. Ent. Ztg., 1871, p. 142) with the colour changed in the above manner.
The method which I use was, according to my knowledge, first employed by a collector in this neighbourhood for killing beetles, and his good success occasioned me to make use of it for other insects. A snndl bottle (if possible, somewhat com- pressed) of white glass, and with rather wide neck, is half-filled with dried moss, or instead, especially for smaller insects, which are easily lost, small bits of jmpcr nuiy be taken. Before I begin my excursion, I choose my bottles according to the booty T expect to bring home ; I put some sulphuric vapour into each by means of a lighted sulpluir match, and take care to close the bottle well.
1 .S [June.
For the larger bottles I use the sulphur matches, as they were called before the introduction of lucifers, and -n-hich are easily made. By right treatment the sulphur will bum away, but not the match, which will soon go out. The sulphuric vapour thus formed does not easily evaporate, and one can put insects, from one to three hours after they have been caught, into the bottle, where they are very soon dead.
In doing this there are two things necessary to observe : first, to put the insects into the bottle as quickly as possible, that the vapour may not escape ; second, not to expose the bottle to the sun, or the vapour in it turns to liquid, and hairy insects are spoiled. Humble-bees require especial care ; for instance, when one is sticking them, if the pin slips, a juice flows out of the wound which sticks the hairs together, and thus destroys the most perfect examples.
This can be avoided by sticking the bee with a very fine needle, and sideways, so that the honey-stomach is not pierced ; or by putting a small pair of pliers in at the opening of the net, and seizing tlie bee by the leg ; and also by being careful not to put too many bees into a bottle, for then, if they do not die quickly, they crawl over and besmear each other with the matter from theii' wounds, or bite each other's antennae off, and exhale so much carbonic acid gas, that if a lighted match be inti'oduced, it will immediately go out, and produce no sulphuric vapour.
It is best to prepare insects killed in this way on the following day ; still, if necessary, the setting can be put off till the second or third day, if the bottles remain weU-corked in a cool place. I try to stick the insects equally in such a manner that about a fourth of the pin remains visible above, and the other part is perpendicular through the sternum, this being of gi-eat importance in setting. For setting I use a smooth-planed board of pine or lime-wood, of about 35 centimetres long, 3^ thick and 4 — 8 broad, with a grove along the centre, about 3 to 20 mm. broad, and about the same depth.
In the bottom of this groove are some holes made perpendicularly, and filled with cotton wool, but not too much of it. The pins are put into these holes (best at the side between the wood and the cotton) as far as the roots of the wings of the insects ; next, the legs are arranged, the front ones towards the front, and the middle and hind ones in an opposite direction, if possible not straight, but bending from the knees.
Next, the wings are to be stretched out inclining a little to the front by means of pieces of paper over them fixed by a pin at each end.
The separation of the front from the hind-wings is self-acting, because the front ones spread over the front edge of the hinder ones, and a little hook on the edge of the under-wing, when the fore-wing is moved, pulls the hinder one after it. Lastly, the antennse are brought into position by means of needles ; care should, however, be taken not to stretch out these organs in Ichneumon females when they are rolled up, as a characteristic peculiarity would be lost.
The insects need not remain on the setting-board longer than necessary for the wings to remain as placed, when the strips of paper may be removed. Small insects, especially Ichneumon-flies, are ready, as far as setting is concerned, on the following day, but larger ones, such as humble-bees, often require a week or more.
■In setting the wings, the bodies of the insects are obliged to be brought into
1875.1 t9
sufh a siiiull spiico, that the natural position and s('])anitlon of the log;* from tliH body is not ea*y, so after the setting is finished, I lie legs nuist still be turned outward by means of strong needles, but with great care, the needles being plaeed as near to the body as possible, because by this time the legs will bear moving only from the base, being there not thoroughly dried.
Small Hijmenoptera, for which the finest pins are too thick, have to be stuck on fine silver wire, as Micro-Lepidoptera are, and mounted on pieces of the pith of the Jerusalem artichoke (HeUanthus tuberosum) , or on birch-agaric (Polypovus beliilinu.ij.
For the sake of uniformity, these pieces should be cut to some pai'ticular measure (about 1 cm. long, 2 to 3 mm. broad, and 3 mm. thick) ; these are stuck on pins, and prepared at the beginning of the collecting season, in order to have supplies ready.
These pieces of pith are placed on the pins so that the insects on them are at the same height at the other insects arranged on pins (about two-thirds up the pin) ; and the piece should be fastened on the under-side by means of a little gum, to prevent its turning round. Whoever wishes to arrive at a higher state of perfection, and to rival the Micro-Lepidopterists, may try to set these small insects (mostly gall-flies, BraconidcB and PteromalidcBj before sticking them on to the pith. Tlie smallest excepted, the larger ones would not offer much more of a diSiculty than, perhaps, a Nepticula. The groove in the setting-boards for such insects, if filled up with the above-named pith, offers the best medium for this purpose. Patience and practice are here, as well as elsewhere, necessary ; and whoever has not, or does not acquire, those essentials, or who contends that careful preservation, setting, &c., is pedantic, will be obliged to renounce the Besthetic, as well as the most practical, use of a Hymenoptera collection.
If ilr. F. Smith was so charmed with his method of preparing Hymenoptera, which left much imperfection, that he was ready to aft^Irm that a collection of insects pre- pared according to his system, was " worth a pilgrimage to look at " (The Entomo- logist's Annual, 1856, p. 106), even more could be maintained with regard to a collection made up in the above way.
It is easily to be understood that such a preservation as that above mentioned can only be carried out when one is at home, or in some one place ibr any length of time.
On long journeys, where the chief thing is to collect, and to bring the collection into the smallest space possible, Hymenoptera can be immediately pinned, and then stuck in a box which has been saturated with benzine ; or, after having first been killed in the above way, they may likewise be piimed or packed between layers of wadding, and the intermediate space strewn with camphor; they can afterwards be relaxed, and then preserved, &c. Still they do not bear it as well as beetles and butterflies do ; however, they bear it better than Diptera, which are only fit for anything if immediately killed and pinned. — Dr. Kbiecubaumee, Munich. (Ex- tracted from the Stettiner Eut. Zeitung, xxxvi, 88, 1875).
Entomological Society of Lo.ndon: Zrd May, 1875. — Sir S. S. Sac.nuehs, C.M.Q-., President, in the Chair.
Prof. H. Bunncistcr was elected ifonorary Member to fill the vacancy caused by the death of Prof. Zetierstedt.
20 Miiiic.
The President exhibited spi-citneiis of Sfi/lops taken bv himself froTii Andrena atriceps recentlj captured at Hampstead, and remarked on tlioir habits and peculi- arities. Mr. P. Enoch, who had visited the locality at an earlier hour (between 9 and 10 a.m.), had taken 17 males, one on the wing. He remarked on the differences presented bj the females of S. Spencii, which infests Andrena atriceps, and S. T'lwailexi, 'pavnsit\c on A. convexkiscula ; and said it was very desirable that the StylopidcB should be carefully examined with respect to the species of bees upon which they were found. One individual of A. atriceps produced a male Stylops, and in the same bee were four female pupae.
Mr. Smith concurred in the President's remarks as to the desirability of a more extended study of our native StylopidcB, and thought that instead of the few species now recorded, we probably possessed nearer a dozen.
Mr. C. O. Waterhouse exhibited a species of Chelifer (or allied genus) found under the following circumstances. Being desirous of examining certain structures in a large species of Passalus from Rio Janeiro, he took out the abdomen of the beetle, and the Chelifers were found between it and the elytra. He also exhibited the drawing of the base of the abdomen of a species of AscalaphidcB from W. Australia, remarkable for having, in this position, a large bifid hump, each division furnished with a crest of hairs : the insect was considered to be the $ of Suphalasca magna, McLach.
Mr. McLaclilan said that Mr. Waterhouse's determination of the species was probably correct ; he believed that a second example existed in Hagen's collection, received by him from Schneider under the MS. name of Azesia camel lis : the only analogous form was Acynonotus incusifer.
Mr. "Wormald exhibited a box of Neitroptera, &c., collected in Japan by i\Ir. H. Pryer. There were several beautiful species of I'aiwrpa, and a new genus allied thereto. Also a very remarkable Trichopterous insect of the genus Perissoneura, of large size, black, with a large white spot in each wing, deceptively like some species of butterflieo.
Mr. Miiller communicated a note respecting a recent exhibition, by Mr. Colo, of ash-leaves deformed by a Cecidomyia ; he said it was C. botularia, Winnertz, of which he liad published an account in the 'Gardener's Chronicle' for 1870, p. 1731.
Mr. McLachlan read an extract from the Kev. A. E. Eaton's first report as Naturalist to the Transit of Venus Expedition to Kerguelcn's Islatid, published in the Proc. Koyal Society. [This extract is reprinted in exteiiso in the present number, ante p. 1]. A discussion ensued as to the manner in which the fact of most of the insects being apterous (or nearly so), might be accounted for. Mr. McLachlan alluded to the idea that the constant prevalence of high winds rendered a large spread of wing useless ; Mr. Jenner Weir stated that another hypothesis had been suggested, viz., tliat as all the endemic flowering plants were apetalous, and appa- rently self-fertilising, the presence of winged insects was not necessary.
Prof. West wood communicated a paper on short-tongucd bees of the genus Nomia, and another on species of Rulelidce from Eastern Asia and the islands of the liastern Archipelago.
1875.1 21
ON CERTAIN EKITISII JI EMIPTERA-IlUMOPTERA.
BY JOHN SCOTT.
{continued from Vol. x\. par/ e 2'32.)
Genus THAMNOTETTIX, Zett.
As originally constituted by the author, this genus contained fourteen species, which were sub-divided into two sections, the first containing eleven, and the second three, species ; but subsequent authors have agreed to differ, not only from him, but even from one another, as to their distribution.
Kirstdibaum, in his " Athysanus-Arten " (1S5S), was the first to commence the work of demolition, b}' placing two of the species (f/risrscens -dnd jjlelejrr), being all that wei'e at that time known to him, in the genus Afhi/sanus, Burm. Three years later, Flor, in the " lihyn. Livl.," assigns the same two species to his sub-genus Athi/sanus, and such others, belonging to Zetterstedt's genus, as he knew, yiz. : 2)}'asi7ir(, biguttata, cruentata, Torneella, suhfuscula, and striatula, he carried to his sub-genus Jassus. In 1868, Kirschbaum, in his " Cicad. Wiesb. u. Frankf." sinks his former genus, AtJiysanus, to a sub-genus, still retaining the same two species in it. Others, witli which he had become acquainted in the interval between the publication of his works, he retains in his sub-genus Thamnotettix. Then came J. Sahlberg's work in 1S71, pul)]ished in the " Xot. Fenn." lie appears to have known all Zetterstedt's species except one (lineoJuta). With the exception of three, he follows Zetterstedt, restoring flehejiis to its original posi- tion, but placing yrise«ce«s and sonUdus in the f^enuH Athi/sanus. The only remaining species, striatula, he disposes of in a new genus of his own (Limotettix). Had Fieber lived to complete his projected work, juilging from the " Kat. der europaischen Cicadinen " (1872), we should have liad a totally different state of matters. For Zetterstedt's type of his genus, Fieber characterizes a new one, Alli/gus, and cer- tainly the insects which he includes in it have a distinct character in size and uiiifornn'ty of markings; this may, however, eventually prove t(i be only sectional. He then adopts cruentata and Torneella as the only representatives of Zetterstedt's genus, and consigns the remainder to the genus Athysanus, Burm. With these differences of opinion it is difficult to know how to deal. Generally, in the followiiig papei', I have adopted Fieber's views, so as to prevent greater confusion ; and I believe the diagnoses given will be found ample enough to lead to the identity of all the spei-ies.
20 [.June,
THAMNOTETTIX (Zett.), Scott, Fieb., p., J. Sahlberg, p.
For tlie most part elongate, slightly dilated across tlie middle of tte elytra.
Head — croivn : measured tlirougb the centre equal to or more than half the length of the basal margin ; sides in front gently rounded to the centre, which is itself rounded. Ocelli placed close to the front margin and near the eyes. Face moderately convex. AntenncB short, second joint cylindrical.
Thorax — pronotum twice as broad as long ; anterior margin con- vex ; j^osterior margin straight across the scutellum, from thence to the short lateral margins acutely rounded. Scutellum triangular ; apex acuminate. Eli/fra as long as or longer than the abdomen ; apical areas, four. Wincjn : first and third longitudinal nerves entire, second furcate at or just beyond the middle ; first concave next the apex, and joined to the anterior branch of the second nerve by a short transverve nerve ; third joined to the inner branch of the second nerve at a short distance from the furcation by a short transverse nerve.
Abdomen : geiiital valve short, triangular ; genital plates elongate triangular, apex narrowly rounded, reaching to the end of the last segment.
A. Testaceous Species.
Elytra lanceolate, witliout red spots or atoms, pale testaceous ; nerves
almost white.
Crown sometimes orange-reddish, with a short black streak on each side of tlie middle of the anterior margin, and a ■whitish longitudinal streak down each Bide of the centre. Pronotum and scutellum sometimes orange-reddish, the fonner with five, the latter with three, longitudinal whitish streaks. Etytra : central apical area and the adjoining ante-apical area generally black or pitchy- brown 1. CKOCEA, H.-Sch., = (attenuatus, Marj^hall).
Elytra not lanceolate, pale testaceous ; nerves almost white.
Crown with a whitish line down each side of the centre. Pronotum with five, scutellum with three, whitish longitudinal streaks. Elytra — clavus with a black spot at the apex of the central nerve. Corium : apex of the discoidal area and base of the adjoining ante-apical area each with a pitchy-brown or blackish spot ; all the longitudinal nerves, more or less in different individuals, very finely and irregularly margined with pitchy-brown ; central apical area black or pitchy-brown 2. ATTENUATA, Germ., ^ frupicapra, Marshall).
Very closely allied to the foregoing species, from which it mav at once be separated by the difference in the shape of the elytra and the black spot in the clavus.
Entirely pale testaceous, and lliickly covered with minute red spots or atoms.
l,S7.-,.l 23
Face with a black spot on each side of ihc middle of the upper uiargiu, barely visihlc from the crown. Eli/tra : apex with a short, longitudinal fuscous or blackit^h dash, more distinct in some individuals than in othei's 3. cri'ENTATa, Panz.
Ult/tra : nerves on both sides broadly niargined with fuscous.
Crown yellow, with two somewhat semicircular black spots next the basal margin, and adjoining each eye, but not touching either ; these are joined to two others more interior, down the centre of which is a short fine yellow streak ; anterior margin on each side with tliree rounded black spots _ which arc united, leaving between them in the centre a distinct yellow _L"8haped character. Face on each Bide with several transverse black streaks enclosed in an oval black border. Pronofum with four longitudinal black lines, the two interior ones placed close together, and leaving a very fine yellow central line and two small spots next the anterior margin, the two exterior irregularly interrupted by transverse yellow lines. Scutellum yellow, base black, or black with the basal angles j'cllow. Elytra with a fuscous shade produced by the broad fuscous margin to the nerves. Coriuni : anterior ^uargin with a broad fuscous line throughout its entire length ; apical areas fuscous, or the area next the anterior margin with a pale patch in the middle.
? testaceous, with the characters on the crown faintly indicated, and those on the elytra almost obsolete 4. melanopsis. Hardy, = (Scotti, Fieb., Cat.).
Originally described by Hardy in the Tr. Tyne. Nat. F. C, vol. i, p. 127, 3 (1850), as Aphrodes melanopsis.
Crown deep black with a few testaceous spots of irregular size. Face deep black on each side, with a few transverse testaceous streaks, round which is an oval black border. Pronotum deep black, finely wrinkled transversely, and with numerous short irregular, somewhat obscure transverse testaceous streaks. Scutellum deep black with a stop on each side of the centre at the base, side margins and apex obscurely testaceous.
Eli/tra hyaline ; nerves broadly black margined on both sides, thcrel)y forming ocellated spots in the middle of the areas ; apical area next the anterior margin generally black 5. couniculus, Marshall.
Minute and closely related to the foregoing species, but its black- ness and the ocellated spots in the areas of the elytra are suillcieut to distinguish them.
Elytra inclining to yellow, variegated with fuscous ; apices of the nerves of the clavus, and transverse nerves of the cerium, white.
Crown viewed from above triangidar, from in front somewhat rhomboidal, with two black spots in front on each side of the centre, continued on to the frons, and two square spots of the same colour in a line with the anterior margin of the eyes, the intermediate space between the spots forming a distinct pale cross. Pronofum with a few black spots next the anterior margin, and frequently two or more longitudinal fuscous lines. Scutellum with a triangular black spot at each basal angle, and generally between these two small ones of the same colour. Elytra somewhat yellowish. Clacus : commissura, a streak between the nerves,
21 IJmic, 187"..
and aiiol her at tlie apex along the inner margin, fuscous. Corium: the two apical areas adjoining the anterior margin, and two patches above the same, fuscous ; portions of the discal areas fuscous, but the pattern varies much in different individuals ; transverse nerves white 6. SPLENDiDTlLirs, Fall.
Deep testaceous or yellowish ; nerves of the elytra pale.
Crown viewed fi'om above triangular, with two black spots in front, one on each side of the centre, continued on to the frons ; in a line with the anterior margin of the eyes, two black ^-shaped characters, the space between these and the spots pale yello^^•ish. JPronotum : posterior half paler than the anterior. ScuteUum with a brownish shade. Eli/lra deep testaceous, shining, with a broad brown wash throughout their entire length, leaving the anterior margin of the corium, and a space below the apex of the clavus, pale ; down the centre the colour is narrowly darkest ; all the nerves pale, and most observable when the insect is in repose. Sternum black 7. puxctifrons, Fall.
The diagnoses of the two followiug species ai'e extracted from those of the Rev. T. A. Marshall in the Ent. Mo. Mag., vol. ii, pp. 2G5-6 (1866), because the insects in his collection representing the first species are, I regret to say, in such bad condition, owing to their unfortunate submersion some years ago, as to render it an almost hopeless task to make descriptions from them, and in the second species, which he refers to with a ?, there being but a single specimen in the collection of the late T. J. Bold, w^hich I have been unable to examine.
Testaceous. Elytra at the apex with some of the cells margined with fuscous.
Crown with two black spots on each side of the centre of the anterior margin, and sometimes faint traces of irregular fulvous spots upon the vertex. Face^frons above and on the sides bordered by a bisinuate black line, widest at the vertex ; sides with transverse black lines, and some more or less obsolete black patches in which are enclosed pale spots. Elytra almost unicolorous, with some of the cells within and round the apex margined with fuscous. Wings hyaline. Legs distinctly spotted with black ; tibicB : third pair at the apex somewhat fuscous ; tarsi: apex of the joints sometimes fuscous 8. CORONIFER, Marshall.
Fieber, in his catalogue, by mistake, attributes this species to Curtis.
B. Yellow or oreexish-yellow species.
Yellow or fuscous-green.
Frons brown bordered with yellow on each side ; above the apex are two curved streaks, the iipper one joined to the ocelli. Elytra p(>llucid, longer than the abdomen, apex rounded ; nerves pale yellow ; apical c^'lLs in the middle obscurely spotted with fuscous. Wings at the apex faintly smoke coloured. Legs pale. Thighs yn\.\\ black lines and spots; tarsi: third pair black at the base; dates black 9. viTBiPENXis, Flor. ?
Elytra sometimes with the nerves bright yellow.
Crown with a black spot, sometimes almost obsolete, near the anterior margin of each eye. Face : upper margin with a short transverse black streak on each side of
.ruly, 1875.] 25
the centre, aud a black spot iu a line with tlie same, close to each eye ; down each side of the centre is a short broad black streak, sometimes almost obsolete, interrupted at intervals by short palo transverse streaks.
10. INTERMEDIA, Boli., = (luHulifrons, J. Sahlberg).
C. Cretaceous or somewhat semi-transparent species.
Crown -with three somewhat large black spots at the anterior margin, and another in the middle of the basal margin. Face with a central black spot almost touching that on the crown ; below the base of the antennae a black spot. Uli/tra — clavus : inner margin and suture, and the adjoining nerve of the corium, black or fuscous-black, the colour of the last fading before reaching the apex.
11. PuEYSSLERi, Fieb.
D. Green species.
Crown unspotted, generally with a red central line. Face with two black spots adjoining the ujapcr margin ; side margins very narrowly, and a small spot immediately below the base of the antennre black. Leffs sometimes orange- reddish ^ 12. frontalis, H.-Sch.
Crown sometimes with a faint lunate brown streak in front on each side the centre, and two spots of the same colour more internally. Face pale brownish with pale transverse streaks ; at the base of the antennae a black spot.
13. VIEE3CENS, Fall.
Crown bright yellow with four black spots placed as follows — two near the anterior margin of the eyes, and two closer together in front, continued on to the frons. Face with a black spot below the base of the autennse j side margins sometimes very narrowly, and inner margin of the lorcB broadly black. Aniennm pale ; second joint except the apex black. Elytra sometimes with one or two pale fuscous longitudinal streaks 14. 4-notatus, Fieb.
Genus GEAPHOCE^Ers, Tbomson, Opusc. ent., i, 57, 25.
Very few will question the correctness of the author's views with respect to the insect about to be described. It has figured in three or four different genera, because no one seems to have known wliat to do witli it. and I hope it has now found a safe retreat. In some respects the insect is much more nearly allied to Doratura, J. Sahib., tlian to any other European genus with which I am acquainted. The peculiar character of the genitalia of the male, viewed from behind, separates it from all the genera with uliich it has been formerly placed. The appendage hanging over tlie tube, and which may be seen by an. ordinary pocket lens, resembles a neckerchief with the ends crossed and ready for tying.
GRAPnocRJiRUs yentealts. Fall.
Oblong, pale green or greenish-yellow, somewhat opaque. Elylra of the ^ as long as the abdomen, ^ shorter.
2G • ;J"iy.
I I Uead -croivn flat; side margins nearly straiglit, somewhat obtusely rounded at the
centre, within ■which is a distinct deep transverse channel ; across the disc, and
a little in front of the anterior margin of the eyes, are fo\ir black spots, the two
exterior ones just visible in front. Face^frons with a black spot on each side
of the centre of the upper margin, and another on the cheeks, about in a line
with the lower margin of the eyes. Antenna short, pale.
Thorax — pronotum transverse ; posterior margin very slightly concave across the Bcutelluui ; disc very finely wrinkled transversely ; in front with two slight calli, between which are two punctures (in the $ generally black). Scidellum and elytra pale green or greenish-yellow, without markings. Legs pale green ; tihice : all the pairs with one row of black spots down the inner margin, least distinct in the first pair and two I'ows down the exterior margin ; apex narrowly black ; spines pale brownish-yellow.
Abdomen : genital plates green, .somcAvhat triangular with the outer side convex, reaching beyond the last segment ; viewed from behind posterior margin black.
Length, 3 lines.
Taken by Mr. Douglas and myself at "Weybridge and Lee in July, and at Abbey Wood in August.
37, Manor Park, Lee, S.E. : April, 1875.
NOTES ON BEITISH HOMOPTEEA, WITH DESCRIPTIONS OF ADDITIONAL SPECIES.
BY J. W. DOUGLAS.
{ro)itinuedfrom Tol. xi, p. 199).
Typulooybid,t:.
The list of British species at present stands as follows: thosQ marked * are now first introduced, and, with Ti/ph. tenerrima,lI.-Schi., which is as good as new to us, are described below ; the others (except JSvpf. notatus. Curt., and E. ahrotani, Doug., which have been other- wise noticed) were described in the E. M. M., vol. iii, by the Eev. T. A. Marshall, and are now referred to by the numbei's there given.
1. Alebra, Fieb. {olim Compsus). 1. alhostriella, Fall. — IMarsh., I. c, No. 1.
2. Ctbtts {Kybos, Fieb.). 1. smaragdulus, Fall. — JIarsh., I. c, No. 5.
3. CuLORiTA, Fieb. (olim Chloria). 1. viridula, Fall. — Marsh., I. c, No. 4.
■2. Jlavesrens, Fab. — IVfarsh., I. c, No. 6. « 3. apicalis, Flor, — Marsh., I. c, No. 7.
IRT.^.J 27
4. DiCKAxoNEURA {Dikraneura, Hardy, 1850; Notus, Fieb., 18G5).
1. flavipennis, Zett. — Marsh., I. c. No. 3. *2. citrinella, Zett. *3. moUicula, Boh.
i. variata, Hardy, — X aridellus, J. Sahib., E. cUrinelltis, Marsh., I. c, No. 2.
5. Ttphlocvba, Germ., Fieb., 1SG5 {.Inomia and Zjgina, Fieb., 1872).
1. jucunda, H.-Sehf.— Marsh., I. c, No. 19.
2. 10-punctata, Fall.— Marsh., I. c, No. 17.
3. qitercus, Fab. — Marsh., i. c, No. 20.
4. u/hu', Lin. — Marsh., I. c. No. 18.
5. tenerrima, H.-Schf. — T. ritbi, Hardy. *G. aurovittata, Fieb.
7. nitidula, Fab. — Marsh., /. c, No. 13.
8. geometrica, Schrk. — Marsh., /, c. No. 14. *9. gratiosa, Boh.
*10. ?ac<ea, Leth.
11. rosce, Lin. — Marsh., I. c, No. 12. *12. alneti, DaUh.
13. scutellaris, H.-Schf. — Marsh., I. c, No. 11. *14. rosea, Flor.
15. hlandula, Eossi, — Marsh., I. c, No. 10.
16. hyperici, H.-Schf. — Marsh., I. c, No. 9.
17. parvula, Boh. — Marsh., I. c, No. 8.
6. Etjpteetx, Curt., J. Sahib.
1. viltatus, Lin. — Marsh., I. c, No. 25.
2. notatus, Curt., B. E., xiii, 640.
3. abrotani, Doug., E. M. M., xi, 118
4. filicum, Newra. — Marsh., I. c, No. 16.
5. urticcB, Lin. — Marsh., I. c, No. 26.
6. auratus, Lin. — Marsh., I. c, No. 23.
7. plctus, Fab. — Marsh., I. c, No. 24.
8. stachydeanim, Hardy, — Marsh., I. c. No. 28.
9. melissce, Curt.— Marsh., I. c, No. 27.
10. signatipennis, Boh. — Marsh., I. c, No. 15.
11. pulc/u'llus, Fall.— Marsh., I. c, No. 21.
12. Genunri, Zett.— Marsh., I. c, No. 22.
There arc still inany I'^uropean species of this family wliii-h may be expected to occur iu Britain. ] am greatly imloMed io Dr. .lohu Sahlberg for his assistance iu conlirming and determining many of the species. The following brief descriptions will suffice to dis- tinguish the respective species ; I have now no opportunity to go more into detail.
2. DlCRANOXEUKA CITHrNELTiA.
Cicada citrinella, Zett., F. Ins. Lap., 53(5, .30 (1828). Cicadula
2S [.I'liy,
citrindla, Zett., Ins. Lap., 299, 13 (1840). TyphJocyha forcipnta, Flor, Ehyn. Liv., ii,3S9, 5 (1S61); Kirsclib., Cicad., 181, 9 (1868). Notus citrinellus, J. Sahib., Not. Fenn., xii, 165, 3 (1871).
Citron -yellow. Crown obtusely produced in front, posteriorly deeply emarginate. An- tennce as long as the head and pronotum togetlier. Pronotum a little longer than the head, scarcely emarginate at the base. Elytra citron-yellow, sub- hyaline, the nerves and claval suture showing distinctly, the 1st and 4th apical cells longest, of nearly equal length, the 2nd and 3rd sub-parallel, the 2nd much shorter than the 3rd. Wings hyaline with yellowish nerves. Legs yellow ; claws of the tarsi fuscous. Abdomen above black or blackish, the margin of the segments narrowly yellowish. Length, 1^ line.
Taken, September 23rd, in a gravel-pit at Blackbeath, where Teucrium scorodonia, Sallota nir/ra, and Lamium album were growinj}; together.
3. DiCRANONEURA MOLLICULA.
Typhlocyha molUcula, Boh., Yet. Ak. Handl.,43, IS (1845); Typhi. Flori, Kirschb., Cicad., 179, 6 (1868); Notus moUicuIus, J. Sahib., Not. Fenn., xii, 166, 4 (1871).
Citron-yellow. Croion obtusely produced in front ; face very long. Pronotum at least twice as long as the head, posterior margin slightly emarginate. Elytra citron-yellow, sub-diaphanoixs, towards the membrane colourless and transparent, leaving the yellow nerves conspicuous, apical area transparent, nerves yellow ; costal cell a trifle longer than the 4th, 2nd and 3rd shorter, both of equal length, sub-parallel. Wings transparent, nerves whitish. Legs pale yellow, claws of tarsi fuscous. Abdomen above black, the margin of the segments narrowly pale.
Length, 1\ line. Very like D. cifrindln ; differa especially in the pi-oportion of the apical cells of the elytra, as stated.
I'aken July 10th, 1867, on Hclianthemum vulgare growing outside Darcnth Wood, where also were some plants of EcJiium vulgare.
5. Typhlocyba TE>'ERRIMA. Typhlocyla tenerrlma, Il.-Schf., Paiiz. F. G., 124, 10, and 164, 16 (1S34); Kirschb., Cicad., 185, 19 (1868); J. Sahib. Not. Fenn., xii, 178, 6 (1871). Typhi, rubi, Hardy, Tr. Tynes. F. C, i, 417, 3 (1850). Typhi, misella, Boh. Vet. Ak. Handl., 122 (1853).
Very slender, whitish and ]-ale yellow. Croion obtusely produced. Pronotum about one-fourth longer than the head, anteriorly rounded, posterior margin sub- truncate. Elytra pale yolk-yellow, costs and longitudinal nerves white, broadly at the base ; apical area white, diaphanous, with white nerves, the latter, es- pecially at the base, margined with fuscous, the two that run out on the costa and the one on the lower margin each terminating in a distinct black dot. Some- times the elytra are very pale yellowish, but the costa and nerves are always . paler. Wings white, transparent, iridesaent. Legs pale ; claws of the tarsi
fu«C0U8 .
i?7o. 20
Abdomen abuve blat'k, the segiueuts imriDwly uiargiuod willi wliile.
Length, nearly 1^ line.
HeiTicli-Schiiffer's figure of the imago is not characteristic, that of the separate elytron is better and agrees with the description, and I have no doubt that our insect is his species. Hardy's description of T. rttbi is very good and well designates our insect.
A distinct, delicate species ; somewhat like T. ulmi, Lin., but smaller, whiter, and with the yellow in the elytra of a lighter and brighter hue. Although not absolutely new to us, I have thought it would be well to describe it afresh.
Xot rare on bramble in August and September.
(To be continued^.
BRITISH JIj:i//Prj:i2^.— ADDITIONS AND COERECTIONS. 13 Y J. AV. DOUGLAS.
Under the name of SaJdn pallipcs, Fabrioius described a species of which the diagnosis runs thus : " atra, elytris pallidis, basi macu- "laque marginal! atris." Now, there are two species of iS'«Ma which have been refei*red to this; the vagueness of the word " pallidis " having no doubt led thereto. The species differ in the shade of the colour of the pale portion of the elytra, which in one is dingy pale yellowish or darker (jjilosella), and in the other white, more or less clear {pallipes); but there is also the more important distinction that in the former species the corium of the elytra is clothed with long black hairs, and in the latter with very small short ones, visible only under a lens of strong power. The difference of colour has been re- corded by authors, but has not generally been held to mark a specific distinction ; the difference as to the black pilosity does not appear to have been noticed. It is true that Mr. Scott and I, in the description of our S. pallipes, mentioned the long black hairs ; yet, as we did not at that time know the foiMii willi the short hairs, we could make no comparison.
Ilerr Thomson, in his " Opuscula Entomologica " has, 1 iiiusl think rightly, separated the species, taking the white, short-haired one as the pallipes of Fab., and giving the name pilosclla to the darker, long- haired one. The omission by authors to notice the dark clothing of the species they described makes it difTicult to determine the synonymy with certainty ; but, with reference to the other characters given, the following may be taken as approximate to the truth. There are some other synonyms that 1 hesitate to appropriate.
30 fJuiy.
In the Oefv., 390, 7 (1868), and in Hem. Fab., i, 91, 3, Professor Stal refers Snida pallipes, Fab. (whicli, according to bim, includes S. pilosella, Thorns.), to 8. saltatoria, Jjin., as a variety ; I cannot but think this is an error, resulting, possibly, from a misconception of the type of saltatoria. Fallen says of S. pallipes, I. c, " Pro varietatc "majori >S'. saltatorice baud rite haberi potest."
Salda pallipes. Acaniliia pallipes, Fab., E. S., iv, 71, 17 (1794); Salda pallipes, Fab., S. R., 115, 12 (1803); Fall., Hem. Suec.,i, 73,4 (1829); p. Zett., Ins. Lap., 267, 4 (1840); H.-SchfE., "Wauz., vi, 43, t. 194, fig. 600 (1842); Costa, Atti, vii, 245, 5, t. i, fig. 7 (1847)?; j3. Fieb., Eur. Hem., 146, 12 (1861); Thorns., Opusc. Eut.,iv, 407, 15 (1871). 8aUa Ucolor, Costa, Atti, vii, 245, 5, t. 1, fig. 6 (1847).
I give the following from Herr Thomson's description. " Black ; " above densely clothed with golden-fulvous pubescence ; elytra with " pale spots and streaks, or dingy white with the base and some spots "on the disc, black," &c.
" Distinguished from S. saltatoria by the larger size, and more " oblong-oval form ; the membrane longer and less broadly rounded; the " pronotum less transverse, the arcuate impression and the fovcola of "disc deeper," &c.
Two or three examples were taken a year or two since at Hayling Island, by Mr. Moncreaff, and kindly forwarded.
Salda pilosella.
Salda pilosella, Thorns., Opusc. Eut., iv, 407, 16 (1871). Acanthia dimidiata, Curt., B. E., xii, 548, 13 (1835)?. Salda pallipes, p. Fieb., Eur. Hem., 146, 12 (1861); D. and S., Brit. Hem., i, 527, 8 (1865). Salda saltatoria, var. b, Stal, Oefv., 390, 7 (1868), sec. Thoms., /. c.
Thomson says of this : " Black, densely fuscous-pubescent, above «' more sparingly and longer pilose ; elytra with streaks and spots, and " with the feet obscure testaceous," &c.
" In form, size and marking very like S. pallipes, but the 2nd " joint of the antennae has a few longer hairs, the elytra are more " fuscous-pubescent internally, and the head and pronotum black- " pilose."
Curtis's Acanthia dimidiata is most probably this species, and the name would have to be adopted if the description were sufiicient ; but, no mention being made of the pilosity, absolute certainty is wanting.
Common at many places on the coast.
15, Belgrave Terrace, Lee, S.E. :
April 30, 1875. «
1ST5.] 31
NOTES OX SOME BRITISn DOLICIIOPODIDJE, WITH DESCRIl'TIONS OF NEW SPECIES. .
BY O. 11. VEER ALL.
lu August, 1872, I published in tlic pages of tliis Magazine a list o£ British DoliclwpocUdce. I now propose giving a few notes on some of the rarer species included therein, especially when additions to our Fauna, adding also a few species which 1 have noticed or determined since.
DoLicHOPUS PH^OPUs, Wlk. — I caught this rare species in some numbers near Poole on July 19th, 1871. Walker's (or rather Hali- day's) description calls the legs " piceous ; the fore pair lightei', with " the tibia? rather pale." They are, however, usually much darker than that ; but Loew was unfortunately ao much misled by the de- scription, that he redescribed the species in 1871 from the Harz and Sudetes mountains as D. montanns. He has since seen a pair of my catching, which he at once identihed as his new species.
D. piciPES, Mg. — According to Loew, Haliday himself declared his D.fdsfiiosiis to be a synonym of Mcigen's D.jncijjes, after seeing types of the latter at Paris. The specimen in Stephens' collection described in the Insecta Britaunica na D. jnc/pcs is without douht B. I ej) id us, Sta'g.
D. LEPiDUs, Staeg. — Though the specimen just mentioned would make this species British, it is surprising it has not been otlicrwise noticed. I have captured it abundantly at Eannoch and Lyndhurst, and have also taken it at Braemar and Wcybridge.
I). MEL.vxoprs, INlg. — I caught two males of tliis in tlie New Forest on June 2Gth, 1872.
D. PLAXiTAUsrs, Fall. — Though AValker leaves outtiie (S) for this species, the only specimen I have seen was caught near Aberdeen.
D. LATiLiMBATUS, Mcq. — I captured several of this species on August 20th, 1874, either near Three Bridges Station or about one of the ponds in Tilgate Forest ; I also caught two females near Poole three days afterwards, which J think are the same. The species is allied to D. nuhiliis, Mg., but is easily distinguished by the black fringed alula>, more broadly and conspicuously margined lamelUc of the hypopygium, and lighter wings. The front tibite bear a long thin bristle near the lij). ll is not uncommon on the coutincnt.
32 • [July,
D. CLAVioEK, Stan. — I met witli this species each time I went to Aberlady, in a wood, but unfortunately mistook it f oi' D. discifer, Stan., which I caught commonly at Eannoch and Braemar.
D. Wahlbergi, Zett. — This s^jecies is w^ell distinguished ' from jD. phimipes, Scop., by its immaculate hind tibi« and pale base of hind tarsi, by the absence of the dark line down the middle tibite, and the darkened tip with a white spot at the side, and by the longer and more feathered basal joint of the middle tarsi, which is as long as the other four joints together, tlie whole tarsus being comparatively longer than in -D. plumipes. I have caught it at Abbott's "Wood and The Plashett in Sussex, near Three Bridges, and in Essex. It seldom associates with D. plumipes.
D. siGNATUS, Mg. — Walker seems to have correctly identified Meigen's pemiatus, but does not seem to have noticed his signatus (= argentifer, Lw\). The latter has the middle tarsi without any feathering, but with the two last joints silvery in front, the antennae black with only the base beneath yellow, and the liind tibise dark at the tip, bearing near the base a peculiar brown spot. I have caught sig- natus at Lyndhurst, Weybridge, and Aberdeen, and I think I have the female from Braemar and Eannoch.
D. mediicor:s^ts, sp. n.
$ ?. Viridis, facie flavido-alhd, antennis suh-elongatis, articulo prima suhtus luteo,fronte viridi, oculorum ciliis inferioribus flavis ; ahdominis in- cisuris nigris ; pedibus flavis, coxis posteriorihus cinereis, tarsis nigris, an- icrioribus hasiflavidis, tibiarum intei'mediarum apice infuscato, posticarum nigro; alls sub-fuscanis, vena discoidali leviter flexuosd, ante apicem alee excurrente.
S , pedibus omnino simplicibus, hypopygii mediocris lamellis ovatis, mi- noribus, sordide albidis, apice et supei^e iiigro-mai-ginatis ; costd 7ibi vena sub-costalis excipit simplici.
^ , facie albtdd, antennis breviorihus, pedibus magis tiiteis et abdomine magis cupreo quam in mare.
Slightly smaller than D. trivialis, Hal. Face whitish, with a yellowish tiuge ; antennre rather long, the third joint being elongate, sub-acute, above as long as the other two joints together, below considerably longer. The hypopygium shining black, with more or loss grey tomentum, the ends of the outer lamellse considei*ably split up, the upper edge more regularly ciliated, and more obscurely margined with black. Legs yellow, front coxse all yellow, bearing several black bristles at their end and numerous small black hairs on their disc in front, posterior coxa; grey, tro- rha^itcrs yellow, logs quite simple, there being no long hrietle on the fi-oiit tibia; and
no ciliutiou boneath the hind femora, the tip of the inidtUe tibiaj is generiillj infus- cated, and then the middle tarsi are scarcely pale at the base, the apical eighth of the hind tibi.'E is blackish ; the basal joint of the hind tarsi bears two large bristles above. Cilia of alulee all black. Wings distinctly brownish on the anterior portion, especially about the veins, but with no trace of a stigmatical swelling, the discoidal vein ending distinctly before the tip of the wing. The female has the face broader and rather paler, the body (especially the abdomen) more coppei-y, the antennae shorter, the third joint being nearly round, and the legs more lutcous.
There is a small group of closely allied DoUchopi possessing the following characters iu common : femora and cilia of the lower orbit pale, antennie black, with the base pale beneath, legs simple without even the hind femora ciliated beneath, or the middle tarsi silvery at the tips in the males, the antennae not inordinately long, the discoidal vein simple and the wings unsj)otted, without any stigmatical swelling in the male. The species hitherto described in this group are puncti- cornis and lineaticornis, Zett. (1843), grandicornis and caJigntus, Wahlberg (1850), and consohrinus, Zett. (1850). The only species of these five recorded out of Scandinavia are lineatieornis, which is given as British in Walker's " Insecta Britannica," and noted as common in Germany by Loew in 1857, and puncticornis, noted by Loew from the Alps. The most distinct of these five seems to be puncficornis, with its " epistoma ochraceum " and "antennae articulo basali subtus ad " apicem puncto parvo luteo a?gre observaudo," — characters which im- mediately separate it from mediicornis : lineatieornis seems to be dis- tinguished from the latter by "epistomate flavido — nervo long, -ito '* leviter flexo fere iu apice alae excurrente — similis priori (Jrivialis, "Hal.) sed epistomate flavescente, antennis paullo brevioribus, articulo " ultimo ovali, parum acuto (nee elongato, acuto) — et magnitudine " iionuihil majori abunde distinctus." Tf mrditconiis be compared with friridlis, it is slightly smaller, the epistoma is of almost the same hue, or even whiter, and the antenna? are distinctly longer, especially the third joint. The lincntinornis of the Insecta Britannica is also de- scribed as "face ochre-yellow in male, dull whitish in female," and is therefore in all probability distinct from mediicornis. Grandicornis has " epistomate aureo-ochraceo — antennis articulis basalibus subtus " f ulvis, coxis posterioribuB basi ad ^ cinereis, tibiis posticis ad sextam " partem iiidctcrmiiiate dilute infuscatis," and therefore seems distinct. Caligatus has "antennis capite transverso brevioribus, articulis basali- " bus subtus anguslissime fulvis, coxis posterioribus basi ad I cinereis, "nervo ([uarto in ipsum fere apicem ala) excurrente. Mas; stigmatc "alarum atro, [)uncliformi." The fifth species, consohrinus, for which
I would propose the uamc macuUcornis, as there was au existing DoJi- chopiis (now Tticliijtri'chus) consohrinus of AValker, is certainly distinct by its Agings " linea stigmaticali breviuscula atra," and " antenuis arti- " culo primo subtus ad apicem luteo." I am, therefore, rather re- luctantly compelled to give a name to the species which I caught in some numbers in the New Forest ou June 26th, 1871, as it does not satisfactorily agree with any previous description that I am acquainted with. Subsequent examination of the Swedish, types may prove that some of them are incorrectly or carelessly described.
D. SABiNUs, Hal. — I caught this pretty little species abundantly on the coast at Aberlady on July 27th, 1873, and have taken it during the present month at the Salterns, Fawle}^, Hants. A curious mis- print occurs in the Scottish Naturalist on the first of these captures, the species being called salinus, a name which exactly suits its habits.
D. viEGULTOETj:yr, Wlk. — I caught a few of this rare species in Plashett Park, near Lewes, on August -Ith, 1872.
D. AGiLis, Mg. — This species appears in the list simply from a female caught at Leith Hill on June 25th, 1868, which was named by Loew as agilis ? I fear it is incorrectly named.
GrTMNOPTEENUS PRINCIPALIS, Lw. — This handsouie species, first described by Loew in 1861, has occurred at Meseritz, in Holland, and in Hungary. I caught three specimens near Poole on July 19th and 20th, 1S71. It is about the size of G. uohiUtatiis, L., with the antcnnaa reddish-yellow, the tip being black, the arista somewhat plumose, the cilia of the lower orbit pale, the lego yellow, the wings greyish, brownish near the costa, and the face white.
Gr. GRACILIS, Stan. — After all, this species is not a synonym of nigricornis, Mg., and the name gracilis must therefore be reinstated. It is well distinguished from its allies by the pale fringed alulse and pubescent scutcllum. I caught one male at Penzance, on July 8th' 1871.
Gr. ciKEEOPHTLLi, Mg. — At Abcrladv, and at Mount St. Michael, near Penzance, I found a Gymnopterntis in abundance on Umhelliferce, which I conclude to be this species ; at any rate a specimen of the same caught near Lewes has been so named by Loew. It is closely allied to G. germanus, AV., but differs in size and in the shape of the
.G. PLAGiATUS.Lw. — A male caught jt Abbey Wood on July 21th,
isrs. : 35
1870, seems to belong to this spec-ics. It luis llie rilia of llie lower orbit pale, two basal joints and base of third joint of antennte reddish- yellow, legs yellow, face silvery, cilia of the aluhc black, wings gi'cyish, cubital and discoidal veins only slightly converging, the discoidal ending almost in the tip of the wing, and the lamclLT of the hypo- pygium blackish, pale at the base.
O. ATROYiEENs, Lw. — On one of the Entomological Club days, I caught a male of this species at Footscray. It is blackish-green, cilia of the lower orbit black, face white, antennae all black, scutellum bare, legs all black, bristly, front tibia? with a long bristle near the tip, hind femora ciliated beneath with pale hairs, lamella} of the hypopygium black, considerably jagged, wings very dark, cubital and discoidal veins strongly converging. Size, nearly 2\ lines.
G. AXousTiFBOXs, Stseg. — The female specime]i of this, which I had caught myself, is now in G-ermany, and I have no memorandum of its locality, but I think it was Eaunoch ; the species has the cilia of the lower orbit black, the scutellum pubescent, the femora black and is much smaller than G. cupreus, Fali., which is the only other species with these characters.
Gr. METALLicrs, Stan. — I caught this once abundantly in Epping Forest on June IGth, 1S72, and soon after met with it in Plashett Park, near Lewes, on August 4th. It is one of the species with black cilia of the lower orbit, and pubescent scutellum, with pale legs, and no black stigmatical swelling on the wings of the male ; it is much larger than G. ccrosus, and has a white face and yellowi.sli lamelhe of the hypopygium.
Gr. iEROSUS, Fall., var. Daldbomi, Zett. — This variety of ccrosus is common iu vScotland, it has the legs considerably darker than the normal f(jrm, but does not seem to differ otherwise.
G. ASSiMiLis, Stseg. — This species is closely allied to G. ccrosus, but the male has a white face, and the cubital and discoidal veins converge more. I have met with it sparingly at Rannoch, Lyndhurst, Three Bridges, and Darenth.
G. NANUS, Mcq. — I caught a few of lliis at Eeigate on July 5th, 1872.
Lewes : May, 1875.
3G [July
CAPTURES OP STYLO PS.
BY FREBK. EXOCK:.
COMMUNICATED WITH NOTES BY FREDK. SMITH.
1 send for publication a very interesting register of tlie captures of stylopized Andrenidce, kept by Mr. Frederick Enock, who this spring has been AvonderfuIIy suocessful in obtaining so large a number of the rare males of Stylops ; what species it may eventually prove to be, will in all probability be determined by the President of The Entomo- logical Society, Sir Sidney S. Saunders, who is at present investigating our British species. It will be seen that the register records no less than seventeen males being obtained ; since the table was drawn up, Mr. Enock has secured another male, — certainly under circumstances that throw a new light on the history of Stylops. The stylopized bees were kept in a box that contained a good bed of moist sand ; they were kept well supplied with fresh flowers, and at the expiration of twenty days it was supposed that all the males of Stylops must have emerged from the bees, in fact, the latter were also supposed to be dead ; but, upon removing the gauze that covered the box, a bee flew out, which, upon examination, was found to have an undeveloped male of Stylops still remaining between the abdominal segments. This was a matter of great surprise to Mr. Enock, who, immediately on making the discovery, removed the cap of the pupa-case of the Stylops, when, to his increased astonishment, he saw it move its antennae ; it very shortly emerged and expanded its wings, was secured, and prepared as a specimen for the cabinet.
Whether in a natural state the Stylops would have remained such a length of time as twenty days as ascertained, and probably some three or four days before Mr. Enock captui'ed it, it is impossible to determine. I have, myself, bred six males of Stylops, each at different periods ; but I never found the males longer than two days before they emerged after being captured ; in fact, I think only on one occasion did more than one day elapse before they emerged.
One misfortune has attended Mr. Enock's captures — he totally destroyed eight specimens in endeavouring to prepare them for microscopic objects.
All the stylopized bees, with, I believe, a single exception, were Andrcna atriceps, the other species being Andrena Afzeliella. Since the tables were drawn up, Mr. Enock has taken Andrena convexiuseula and A. lahialis infested by females of Stylops. All the captures were made at Ilampstead Heath. « F. Smith.
1S7.0.]
87
April Dill. — Wind west, and very stormy ; dull juctrniiig ; wont to Hampstead Heath ; was on tlie ground at ten o'clock ; the rain soon came on ; I noticed numbers of MeVoe on the march ; at eleven o'clock the sun shone out, and very soon I saw a bee, but it was carried away by the strong wind ; soon after I caught one, examined it, and found it was stylopized ; a second and a third taken wei'e also stylopized. I took' two or three more, and then the rain came down again, which put a stop to my work ; it continued to rain till half-past eleven, when the sun again shone out ; when the bees again appeared. I caught numbers up to half -past twelve, when I left the heath, having taken thirty-six specimens of Andrena atriceps. Ten were stylopized, as follows : —
1 ? Andrena containing 2 $ Stylops
4 $ „ „ 1 ? „ each.
2 c? „ „ 2 ? 1 (?, „ » 3 ?
■" O V )' -'■ O
April 6th. — A\'ind S.W. ; warn^ morning at half-past nine : the first bee I caught had a female Stylops. The sun shone from ten to half-past eleven, during which time Andrena atriceps was very active ; I took a considerable number with my net. At half-past eleven the sun went in, when I took the bees resting on the ground ; at a little before half-past eleven I saw something flying in a very peculiar manner over a broom-bush ; I captured it with my net ; it proved to be a male of Stylops. I think I should now know a Stylops on the wing the moment I saw it, its flight is different to any- thing else I have ever seen ; a very peculiar unsteady flight, something like an Ephemern, what I should call an uncomfortable flight, up and down, this way and that way, in fact at all angles, not keeping in one direction more than a few inches, perhaps for about six or seven. My captures were as follows : —
arrived at the Heath
Bees.
? <? <? <? (? (? S 3 <?
? (? <? (? (? <? <?
i
stylops.
Time. 9.30.
9.40.
9.45.
10.0.
10.10. 10."l5.
11.0.
Bees. S
i s (J
<? <?
cT ? <? <? $ <? $
36
Stylops.
? ? ?
9 ?
27
Time. 11.5. 11.30.
Il!l5.
11.50.
12.0.
12.15.
12.20.
12.30.
On this second day, the thirty-six bees taken contained forty- four specimens of St^Iojjs — seventeen males and twenty-seven females ; these, added to the captures on the previous day, make a total of forty- six bees, that contained in all nineteen males and forty females.
F. Enock.
DESCEIPTIONS OF THEEE NEW SPECIES OF LYCBNIDJE. by w. c. hewitson, f.l.s.
Htpochrtsops Deltcia.
Upper-side : metallic silvery- white, tinted (as the light falls upon it) with blue or green. Anterior wing with the outer half dark brown. Posterior wing with the costal and outer margins rufous- brown : the anal angle scarlet.
Underside : stone colour. Both wings with a series of scarlet spots on the outer margins traversed by a silver line. Anterior wing with a large, irregular, longitudinal, scarlet spot in the cell bordered with black and silver, a minute black spot also in the cell : three black spots below these, a hexafid scarlet transverse band beyond the middle, bordered by black and silver. Posterior wing with the base of the costal margin and several transverse spots scarlet bordered with silver : one spot near the base succeeded by three spots, by a band of four spots, by two spots near the middle, and by a band of seven spots (one bifid).
Exp. 2aV inch. Hab. Australia.
In the collection of Henley G. Smith.
A splendid species, most nearly resembling II. ignita on the under-side.
Hypociirtsops Bubases.
Upper-side: cerulean-blue with all the margins broadly brown. Posteriorwing with two slender tails, the outer margin rufous, broadest near the anal angle, where it is bordered above and below with silver.
Under-side : rufous. Both wings undulated throughout with black, and marked by several irregular black spots, and by numerous small silvery-blue spots, some of which form two sub-marginal bands.
Exp. Ito inch. Hab. Malacca (Wallace).
In the collection of "W. C. Hewitson.
1875.] 39
Apitx.ixs Vixixoa.
Upper-side: dark red-brown. Anterior wing with a small white spot at the end of the cell. Posterior wing with two tails, the anal angle rufous.
Under-side : rufous, pale. Both wings with many silver spots. Anterior wing with the base yellow, succeeded by transverse bands of two spots, of three spots, and of four spots (one of which is linear), by two spots near the costal margin, and by a band near the outer margin of six spots, all silver bordered by red-brown ; a sub-marginal series of brick-red spots. Posterior wing with several spots from the base to tlic middle, succeeded by a transverse band of six spots, by two linear spots on the abdominal fold, a spot at the apex, and a spot near the anal angle, all silver, bordered with brick-red : some spots near the outer margin and the anal angle brick-red : a sub-marginal scries of dark brown spots decollated with silver near the anal angle, a yellow spot at the anal angle.
Exp. liu inch. Hab. Borneo (Lowe).
In the collection of W. C. Hewitson.
Much larger than any hitherto known species of this very beauti- ful genus.
Oatlands, Wcybridge : June, 1875.
Kofe on capture of Aphodius villosus, Sfc, at Mickleham. — At the beginning of the present month, whilst beating hazel for Cryptocephalux coryli and nitidulus (of both of which I obtained a few examples) at Mickleham, I was much staggered at finding a specimen of the rare ApJiodivs villosus in my umbrella ; how it got there I know not, unless on the wing at the time. The captures of this species are certainly of an accidental character, it only once, I think, having been found in dung in this country ; this will be the first time it has been recorded from so near London.
Only a few minutes before this, my friend, ^fr. Marsh, who was with mc at the time, picked up a <J example of Meyapenthes higens from a leaf of the common stinging nettle, — an extraordinary capture.
Bembidium Sturmi has also recently occurred to me on the banks of the Molo here. It looks as if Mickleham wa« not yet exhausted of its Coleopterous fauna. — G. C. Cn.\MrioN', 274, Walworlli Road, London : Ju)ie \st, 1875.
Compsochili(-i palpalis at Cuterham. — On the 8th of June, whilst sweeping towards evening on tlie banks of a small pond at Catcrham, Surrey, I was much gratified at finding a fine example of Compsochilus palpalis in my sweeping net.
This will make the fourth British example, all from different localities, viz. : — Tunbridgc and Shcerncss, Kent, and Wandsworth and Catcrham, Surrey. — Id.
40 i-'^^^y'
Note on Orchesies iota ; loith a moral. — My captures of Coleoptera this spring have been few and unimportant, and many good species have been very rare or altogether absent. I have, however, again found a few Oathormiocerus maritiiv/ns, Eye, and eight specimens of an Orchestes, which Mr. Rye has named for me iota, Fab. He also tells me that, according to M. H. Brisoutde Bameville's Monograph, this species feeds on birch, Salix caprcea, and poplar ; but all my specimens were beaten from Myrica Gale, in the latter end of May. On receiving his note I went again to the locality, and carefully beat the sallows, but failed to obtain any, yet I again boat four from the 'sweet gale.'
This species is, I think, rare, which is no doubt owing to the difficulty of working a bog in the spring when full of water ; and, had not the present season been a dry one, I could not have got at it. As it was, I had to step from tuft to tuft, carefully avoiding the water between, which was in some places very deep. An incident occurred, whilst making my last search in this place, which I will relate, as it may serve as a caution to young collectors. While at work on the middle of the bog, I noticed a well-dressed person eyeing me with evident curiosity, apparently wondering what I could possibly be at with an umbrella up-side down, under a buiming sun ; and, seeming unable to resist the temptation. of satisfying himself, he essayed the somewhat difficult feat of getting at me. The first few steps he managed very well, but I think he must have mistaken the close covering of water-crowfoot on the water for solid ground, for he took a step on the treacherous weed and then disappeared. The next I saw of him, he was standing up to his hips in water and mud, clearing his eyes and mouth. He had unwillingly taken "a header" into the deepest part of it. He emerged from the side farthest from me, and at least three miles from any house that could have been his home, — a wetter, and, let us hope, a wiser, man.
Application : do not let your curiosity get the better of your discretion. — Heney Monceeaff, High Street, Portsmouth: June loth, 1875.
The Colorado Potato- Beetle. — This insect, which is one of the tetramerous phytophagous Coleoptera, was only known up to a few years ago as living in the Kocky Mountains towards New Mexico, where its larvae fed upon a wild plant of the order Solanacem, the Solanum rostratum. This Solarium not being a common plant, and having only restricted localities, the Dorypliora, according to the laws of nature, was also a rare insect, occurring where the Solanum rostratum existed, and only multiplying in a ratio proportionate to that of the limited distribution of the plant. Note this well ; it is essential.
The civilised white man has tlie bad habit (concerning wild plants and the insects that feed upon them), in proportion as he spreads over the globe, to extend also the cultivation of plants that he uses for food, or which are useful to liim in any way. He thus substitutes an artificial flora for the natural one of the countries he invades, and the former becomes still more restricted or vanishes altogether.
The phytophagous insects, whose lot is linked to that of the native plants, follow the same road. Without going beyond our own country, how many times have I not heard a Lepidopterist anathematise the progress of cultivation in the Campine, a progress that each year causes ' good species ' to disappear. How many times also
I is:r,.] -11
have the botanists returnod disappointptl at not fimliii!^ a single speeies of the rare plants that always used to occur at given localities. In a word, man and his civili- zation always impoverish the natural flora and fauna wherever he establishes himself.
Wlien the white man and his cultivation arrived in contact with Ihe Dorypliora in the west of the American Continent, the evil commenced. If the American had there cultivated wheat, maize, or oats, the Dorypliora, starved by the diminution of Solanum rostratum, would have proceeded quietly towards total extinction. Unfor- tunately, man brought with him the cultivated Solanum — the potato — in great quantities, a plant that suited the beetle perfectly, and which it hastened to attack, multiplying in proportion to the food offered to it, so that, increasing plentifully, the species, from one potato field to another, has invaded almost the whole of the North American Continent, to the great detriment of the cultivators, who did not reckon upon having laboured for the benefit of these little pests.
Everybody is acquainted with the feai's entertained of the possibility of the invasion of Europe by these insects ; everybody knows that measures are proposed to prevent it ; but everybody does not know that these measures appear to be based ujion grave errors concerning the habits of the Doryphora. The argument is : — this is an insect that attacks the potato ; therefore stop the importation of potatoes from America! Afterward*, when it is shewn that the Doryphora has absolutely no connection with the tubers, and eats only the green parts of the plant, instead of abandoning the order of ideas that inspired the projected measure, it is sought to be •justified by the fear of the presence of larvse or pupiE in the earth that accompanies the sacks of potatoes.
I need not tell you that if a larva or pupa of Ihe Doryphora quitted America in a sack of potatoes it would be crushed long before reaching us, fur it is soft and very delicate. More than that ; one individual would not suffice, it would be necessary to have the two sexes in a condition favourable for propagation upon their arrival here.
According to Dr. Chapuis, an authority u]ion this family of insects, neither larva nor pupa occurs at the time when potatoes are collected. At that epoch, the Doryphora is in the perfect state, and seeking quarters in which to hibernate, which has induced Dr. Candeze to state, at our (Belgian) Entomological Society, that bales of cotton would be more likely to bring it here than sacks of potatoes. In fine, in this state, it might arrive here by a thousand different modes more probable than by those by which it is proposed to hinder it. Who knows, if it may not bo that the Universal Exhibition at Thiladelphia in 1876, and the materials used for packing all that is returned, are fatally destined to bestow this plague upon Europe? Will one for this send nothing to this Exhibition ; will one break all relations with (lie United Slates? — Evidently not.
Another question is to know wliether the Doryphora would be able to acclimatise itself in Europe if once it should pejietrate to it. Jlany say yes, many say no. My learned colleague. Dr. Candeze, does not hesitate to deny absolutely the possibility of such an acclimation ; but his reasons do not appear to me the most convincing.
In the doubt that exists, I am asked what is to be done ? Wait quietly is my advice. Keep a sharp look-out, and if the detested beetle should appear, act ener- getically in the same way as if it wore Ihe cattlc-plagne. Lot us have no commissions.
42 f-'"iy
no reports, no verbosity, but snnimary and rapid execution, not only upon the insect and its eggs, but upon the potatoes themselves, which should be destroyed radically (with idemnification of the injured cultivators) in those places were the pest appears, within a stated radius.
If the insects are destroyed witli the plants that carry them, those that escape destruction in this way will perish from hmiger. Further, if the culture of potatoes and other Solanacece (tomato and tobacco) be forbidden within a stated district for a year or two, and the Solamim dulcamara and nigra be carefully extirpated, all disaster to our agricvdture will be prevented.
In France, where another insect pest attacks the vine, and even menaces its annihilation, it would have been good had the evil been abruptly stopped at its origin, and to-day one would not have regretted an indemnity well placed at the commencement, not even if it amounted to several hundred thousand francs. In place of that, commissions have been named without nimiber, all kinds of remedies have been tried, volumes and pamphlets enough to fill a library have been written, much money has been spent, much time lost, &c., and the Phylloxera has none the less continued its work. It now covers nearly all the departments in which the vine is cultivated, threatening the complete annihilation (unless unexpected help is obtained) of one of the principal sources of the wealth of our neighbours. — A. Pretjdhomme de Bokre, in the Bulletin de la Societe Linneenne de Bruxelles, 1875.
[We have translated the above (from a separate pamphlet-form) as cojitaining some very sensible observations upon a subject that is now attracting general attention in Europe. Later on, we hope to reproduce a paper by a well-known English Colcopterist. Up to the present, the importation of potatoes from America has been forbidden by France, Belgium, Germany, Holland, Russia, and Spain. Great Britain has contented itself by a species of surveillance. — Eds.].
Occurrence in Britain of Cladins DriiUcBi, Dahlbom. — To the list of the British species of Cladius given in Vol. xi, p. 253, may now be added Cladius (Priophorus) Brullcei, Dahlbom, which I have reared from larva? found last autumn in Cadder Wilderness, feeding on Rubiis idaiis.
The following is a description of the full-fed larva.
Ilead deep shining black. Feet and elaspers white. Upper part of the body to the spiracles deep brownish rather glistening black ; the sides below the spiracles glistening wliite. The base of the 2nd and the anal segment white. As usual with the larvse of this genus, the body is covered with tubercles, from wliich proceed long hairs. Length about 9 — 10 lines.
In its habits and pupation the larva does not differ from C. padi. Dahlbom mentions Rubnafrulicosus as the food-plant. — P.Cameron, Jun., 13G, West Graham Street, Glasgow : 10^ June, 1875.
Note on the gall of Aphilothi-ix 7-adicis. — On 20th May I noticed, at Ardlui, Loch Lomond, some fresh galls of Aphilothrix radicis on the trunks of oaks, at a
1875. 43
heiglit of 5 — 6 feet from the grouiul, iiisii-iid of at the roots, as is usual. The galla were then quite soft, of a white colour more or less tinged with rod. In one gall I observed a couple of the inquiline, Sj/nercftts incrassatus, dejDosit their eggs.
Mr. Frederick Smith has recorded a similar occurrence in the case of Biorhiza aplera, another root-frequenting gall-fly. — Id.
Note on setting small Hymenoptera. — In the somewhat voluminous extract from Dr. Kriechbaumer's account of his method of setting Hymenoptera, which appeared in last month's issue, there are one or two points to which I desire to take exception publicly, lest any one should be induced to enter upon the study of this group of insects under the guidance of this plan, which probably appears easier and less laborious than the process of carding, at least to those who can understand the description given. Without any wish to be captious, I must confess that some sen- tences are by no means clear to myself, but then possibly a perusal of the original document in its entirety might clear up such difficulties as are caused by an abridged translation. The process described by Dr. Krieehbaumer cannot for a moment be admitted as even possible in the case of those minute Hymenoptera {Proctotrupidce and ChalcididcB) which are themselves hardly larger than a pin's point, and Dr. K. appears unaware that in most cases the; thoracic plates are amongst their chief dis- tinguishing characteristics, for these must of course perish if the insect is impaled on a comjiaratively monstrous pole almost the thickness of its body. I think if any one will read Mr. Marshall's account in the Ent. Ann. for 1873, p. 128, he will be convinced that, at least for small and medium-sized insects, no plan is equal to that of carding.
For large insects, Dr. K.'s plan is doubtless very effective, but I fail to see the superiority which is claimed for it over Mr. Smith's plan ; and in fact I, having practical experience of this latter method, feel convinced that no other plan can display the insects more beautifully or regularly than it. The only difference be- tween the two modes is that Mr. Smith's is possibly more rapid. — A. O. Waed, 13, Lower I'ark Fields, Putney.
On preserving Hymenoptera, Diptera, <^'c. — The article by Dr. Krieehbaumer, extracted at page 17 of this volume, was, I presume, wi-itten for the es})ecial benefit of continental entomologists, who are more particularly addicted to pinning insects. With British entomologists the case is different. In tliis country, pins are very much more apt to corrode than they are on the continent ; we are therefore under the necessity of employing a method of setting which is adajjtcd lo our climate. The larger Hymenoptera suffer less from pinning than most other orders of insects ; but so great a proportion are very minute, that for these, pinning or even mounting on fine silver wire is a most laborious and unsatisfactory method of displaying them, as compared with setting on card by means of gum tragacanlh ; and, in a very great number, perforation is simply impossible on account of their microscopic size. Several eminent British entomologists have a prejudice against carding which it is difficult to understand, but no objection to it ever comes from those who have had sufficiently long practice at it to be able to set well ; and the longer they are accus- tomed to it, the more they appreciate it for the facility it affords for the critical examination of specimens, as well as the better preservation of them. Bad cai'ding
1. 1- [July.
IS not a bit better than bad pinning, and it ia perhaps owing to the careless manner in wliieli it is sometimes done, that the objections to it principally arise. It is qiiite possible to mount a small insect on card so as to equal in appearance the drawing of an experienced artist, and this is what ought to be aimed at ; but the same cannot be said of pinning, at least in Hymeiioptera and Diptera. And if a good coloured figure of an insect is valuable, how much more so is the insect itself when exhibited in a similar style ?
I should recommend the carding of about nine-tenths of the British Hymen- optera, and of nearly all the Diptera, certainly all the TipuUdm. But of all insects not of minute size, which it is desirable to card, there are none for which it is more essential than the EphemeridcB. With the sole exception of the eyes, they preserve well, and the species are recognisable. I can show well-preserved specimens set thirteen years ago.
Let it be borne in mind that the question under disciission is not one of science, but of art, and its decision rests with the artist as well as with the scientific entomo- logist ; but if the artist is also a scientific entomologist, he will know what are the parts of an insect which it is needful to display carefidly, so as to be fit for examina- tion with the microscope. — Benjn. Cooke, Bowdon, Cheshire : 12^/* June, 1875.
Deilephila livornica in Olamorgan.—\ have to-day had a live specimen of D. livornica brought me. It was taken in a cottage in this town. — EvAX John, Llantrisant : 27^/t May, 1875.
%tntws.
Entomologische Nacheichten. Nob. 1 — 4. Putbus. January — February 1875.
We have received the first four numbers of this new fortnightly periodical edited by Katter. It seems to aim at taking the place of the " Correspondingblatt," foi-merly edited by the late Dr. Herrich-SchadOfer. Each part consists of eight octavo pnges. There is little original matter in the parts before us, and we content ourselves by announcing the advent of the journal, and by the remark that, if it is to be a success, it can only be obtained by a considerable improvement in future numbers. Most of our readers (like ourselves, till we looked it out on the map) are probably ignorant of the geographical position of Putbus, so it is weU to explain that it is a small tow^^ in the island of Eiigcn in (he Baltic.
Seventh Annual Report on the Noxious, Beneficial, and othee Insects of the State of Missouei : by Charles V. Riley, State Entomologist. Jefferson City, 1875 ; pp. 1—196.
It has always afforded us great pleasure to notice Mr. Riley's Annual Reports, and this sensation is by no means lessened on the present occasion. Probably the range of subjects treated upon is not so wide as in some former Reports, but we observe that the author's accustomed careful and exhaustive treatment has in no respect diminished ; perhaps in some respects the Report has profited by con- centration. Nor must we forget the elaborately careful drawings from the author's own pencil, and the (on the whole) equally painstaking way in which these drawings have been treated by the engraver. *
1875.] 45
The contents include the "Colorado Potato-Beetle," the "C'liineh Bug," the " Flat-headed Apple-tree Borer," " Canker Woniis," the "Grape Phylloxera," and the " Kocliy Mouutain Locust," and almost each article is an exhaustive life-history. The Colorado Beetle is, of course, the much-dreaded Dori/pliora 10-lineata; the Chinch Bug is Micropits leucopterus ; the Apple-tree Borer one of the Bujn-esiida (ChrysobothrisfemoratusJ ; Canker Worms are species of Anisopteryx, not unlike our A. cEscularia ; the Locust is Caloptenus spretus. In connection w ith tliis latter insect, there is a map with shaded parts indicating the counties in the Slate of Missouri that suffered from it in 1874, with the direction whence the insect came, &c.
At a time when so much alarm is evident in Europe at the possibility of an iiwasion of the Colorado Potato-Beetle — an alai-m that has induced the majority of the Eui'opean Governments to prohibit the importation of potatoes from America^ it appears to us that Mr. Eilcy's latest published opinions may not be uninteresting to our readers, and we therefore quote them in extenso.
He says (p. 8) : — " I must repeat the opinion expressed a year ago — and which " has been very generally coincided in by all who have any familiarity with the insect's " economy — that if it ever gets to Europe, it will most likely be carried there in the " perfect-beetle state on some vessel plying between the two continents. While the " beetle, especially in the non-gi-owing season, will live for months without food, the " larva would perish in a few days without fresh potato tops, and would, I believe, " starve to death in the midst of a barrel of potatoes, even if it could Kct there vrithout " being crushed ; for while it so voraciously devours the leaves, it will not touch the " tubers. The eggs, wliich are quite soft and easily crushed, could, of course, be " carried over on the haulm, or on the living plant ; and while there is a bare possi- " bility of the insect's transmission in this way, there is little probability of it, since " the plants are not objects of commercial exchange, and the haulm, on account of " its liability to rot, is not, so far as I can learn, used to any extent in packing. " Besides, potatoes are mostly exported during that part of the year when there are " )ieither eggs, larvte, nor potato-vines in existence in the United States. There is only " one other possible way of transmission, and that is in sufTiciently l:ir;j;e hniips of earth, " either as larva, pupa, or beetle. Now, if the American dealers be required to care- " fully avoid the use of the haulm or shaw, and to ship none but clean potatoes, as " free as possible fi'ora earth, the insect's transmission among the tubers will bo " rendered impossible ; and when such precautions are so easily taken, there can be "no advantage in the absolute prohibition of the traffic in American potatoes. As " well prohibit traffic in a dozen other commodities, in many of which the insect is " as likely to bo taken over as in potatoes, and in some of which it is even more likely " to be transported. The course recently adopted by the German Government, in " accordance with the suggestion made in my last Report, is much more rational " and will prove a much better safe-guard. It is to furnish vessels plying between "the two countries with cards giving illustrated descriptions of the insect in all "stages, with the request that passengers and crew will destroy any stray specimens " that may be found. Let England aiul Ireland, together with the other European " Governments, co-operate with Germany in this plan, and have such a card posted " in the warehouses of seaport towns, and in the meeting rooms of Agricultural " Societies, and a possible evil will be much more likely avoided. Some of the " English journals are discussing the question as to whether, with the more moist
4() [July
"and cool climate of that country, our lO-lined potato-beetle would thrive there " even if imported. There cannot be much doubt that the insect will rather enjoy *' the more temperate clime ; for while it thrives best during comparatively dry "seasons, both excessive heat and drought, as well as excessive wet, are prejudicial " to it. It is argued by others that on the continent of Europe our DorypJtora ■"would not thrive if introduced. The idea that the climate of North America is " less extreme than that of Europe, is rather novel to us of the Cis-Atlantic, and I "am decidedly of opinion that they delude themselves who suppose that Doryphora " could not thrive in the greater part of Europe."
Entomological Society of London: 'Jth, June, 1875. — Sir S. S. Saunders, €.M.G-., President, in the Chair.
W. A. Forbes, Esq., of South Castle Street, Edinburgh, was elected an Ordinary Member.
Mr. Briggs exhibited some specimens of Zygcena meliloti, bearing a strong Tesemblanco to Z. trifolii, and mentioned several instances in which the offspring of Z. meliloti exhibited a taint of trifolii blood. He suggested that Z. meliloti might he only a stunted variety. Mr. McLachlan remarked that the insects of the genus hybridized very freely, and alluded to their pairing several times. Mr. W. A. Lewis had noticed that Z. meliloti was by far the most common insect in the New Forest, and as it appeared to have been only discovered of late years, this supported the idea that it was only a stunted variety wliich had been recently developed there. Mr. "VVeir said that he had taken the insect twenty years ago in Tilgate Forest.
Mr. McLachlan exhibited a portion of a vine-leaf on which were galls of PhyUo- xera vastatrim, the leaf having been recently plucked in a green-house near Loudon.
The Rev. A. E. Eaton exhibited the insects which he had recently captured in Kerguelen's Island. There were about a dozen belonging to the Coleoptera, Lepi- doptera, and Diptera, besides some bird-lice and fleas. They were all cither apterous or the wings were more or less rudimentary. One of the Diptera possessed neither wings nor hnltfres.
Mr. Briggs exhibited a specimen of Balias prasinano, which, when taken, was heard to squeak several times very distinctly ; and, at the saiuc time, a slender fda- ment, projected from beneath the abdomen, was observed to be in rapid motion, and two small spiracles below the filament were distinctly dilated.
The President remarked that he had recently discovered a larva in the body of Andrena Trimmerana, which had a long telescopic process in front similar to that of Conops, and two reniform processes behind. He had frequently found Conops in a species of Dombus, but he had never observed it before in Andrena. Mr. W. Cole remarked on the gi'cat number of different parasites attached to the genus Bombus.
The Secretary exhibited some specimens of a minute Podura, forwarded to him by the Secretary of the Microscopical Society, having been found on the snow of the Sierra Nevada.
Mr. F. H. Ward exhibited some microscopic slides shewing specimens of a flea attached to the skin of the neck of a fowl.
Professor Westwood communicated a " Description of a new genus of Clerideous Coleoptera from the Malay Archipelago."
Mr. McLachlan read a paper entitled "A sketch of our present knowledge of the Neuropterous Fauna of Japan (including Odonata and Tnchoptera)."
Part i of the Transactions of the Societv for l875 was on the table.
1875.] 47
NEW GENERA AND SPECIES OF PRIoyiDM (LONGICORN COLEUP-
TERA).
BY ir. W. RATES, F. L. S.
Parandka .Taxus, n. sp.
-Xi(jro-pic('a,j)nncfata, suhtus casfaneo-rufa ; antennis piceis,pedihis testacco-rujis ; maiuUbulis ,^ paulo elongatis, supra carina ad basin valde elecata, intus ante apicem dente valida bifida apice ipso lato bidentato ; epistomate i-simuifo, medio dente triangulari armato.
Long. 11 Jin., ^ ? .
Ill fonn, similar to the common P. glabra. The upper-surface (iiicliRliiitj; mandibles) shining pitchy-black ; the whole under-surface (including the inflected margin of the elytra) chestnut-red, legs paler. The whole upper-surface is punctulated, the elytra more coarsely so. The thorax is transverse, and the lateral rim visible throughout from above ; it is slightly narrowed from the front to beyond the middle, then more suddenly so, and sinuated before the posterior angles, which are distinct and rectangular. The tarsi are similar to those of P. glabra, except that the 3rd joint is more distinctly emarginated ; the claw joint is furnished with a bisetose onychium.
(^ . The forehead between the eyes has two large obtuse eleva- tions ; the front edge of the epistome is strongly quadrisinuate, with a simple central tooth. The mandibles are rather short, robust, with the upper carina much elevated, and a double tooth on their inner edge near the apex, with the apex itself oblique and bidentate.
One example (J") from Dr. INEeyer's collection, Menado, Celebes ; one ? , Andai, New Guinea (Signer D'Albertis).
The species is more nearly allied to the AVest African P. gabonica than to the new Caledonian species.
AxOPLODEnMA QUADKICOLLE, 11. Sp.
CgJindricum, nigrum, obscurum, crebre confiurnter punciatum ; front e concava, mandibula sinistra basi valide denfata ; thorace transversim qiia- drato,juxta basin snbito constricto ; tibiis extiis multi-de7iticulatis, apice dilatntis et extus spinosis. Long. 8 lin., ^ J .
(J. Antennee corpora paulo breviores, articulo 3'° sitnplici (4'" frquali), ■is" — 10"'" valde serratis, IV"" precedenfi duplo longiori. Tro- chanteres postici spina longissima acutaque annati.
? . Antennae thoracis basin hand attingcntes, sub-monil iformcs, ar- ticulis 4 — 10 intus paululum dilatatce. Trochanteres simplices.
4S [July, is:.-..
This species agrees with none of the four genera of the group Anopl oderviides, according to Lacordaire's definitions ; it partakes of the characters of all of them, with some specialities of its own ; and, as it is probable all four will eventually be combined into one, I prefer referring the insect to the typical genus to creating a new one. The eyes are rather finely granulated, widely distant and sharply emargi- nated. The forehead is concave, narrowed to the epistome, which is vertical and even concave on its front face. The large tooth near the base of the left mandible exists in both sexes, though much longer in the ^ . The palpi have oval terminal joints. The hind part of the head is thick and convex. The thorax is twice the width of the head ; transverse-quadrate, but with regularly rounded sides ; the somewhat explanated lateral margin terminates in a rectangle iiear the base, where the thorax is suddenly constricted ; the surface in both sexes is covered with circular punctures, which coalesce in irregular patches, leaving irregular and almost impunctate spaces. The elytra are uniformly and coarsely sub-confluent punctate. The tibife are covered with sharp tubercles and denticulations, and the external side of their dilated apices is prolonged into a long tooth ; the tai'si are linear, about as long as the tibifp, densely bristly beneath, with the fourth joint well developed and of the same shape as the others, though smaller. The hind trochanters of the male are prolonged as sharp spines, half as long as the femora.
The antennae of the ^ are four-fifths the length of the body ; joints 1 to 3 are glabi'ous and shining, the rest are densely and mi- nutely porous and opaque ; the 3rd joint is of about the same length as the 4th, but is clavate and simple, whilst the 4th is greatly prolonged at its outer apex like the 5th to 10th. In the ? the antenna" are ex- tremely short, with shining moniliform joints, the 3rd and 1 Ith the longest and nearly equal.
Mendoza. From Mr. Edwyn C. Eecd's collection.
ApoTEOPnrs, nov. gen. (fam. Prionidte, suli-fain. Ctenoscelincd).
^ . Elonqato-ohlongus. Caput puhescens. Oculi emarginati. 3Ion- dihnla parum elongata, apice ahrupte curvata ihique extus dentata, intuH vnlide tmidentata. Falpiut in gen. CtenosceJis, apice truncati. AntenncB \2-articulat(E, corpore mulfo breviores ; artietilo 1"'° hrei-i, clavato, 3'" cceteris singulis dupJo longiori, 4 — 10 ajnce int us product is foveisque maqnis porosis. Thorax transversis, inermis, lateribus rotundntis, vix crennlatis, anqulis ohtvsis ; supra inceqilhlis, medio sparsim hiterihus con-
August, 1875.] 49
fcrtim punctafus. ScnfcUum hirsiifion. EJ//frn posfice vwrl/oc anfjvs^tnta, apice rotundato angidoque siifiirce dentlculato, supra coriacen, leviter tricostata. Femora Iccvia ; tihice intus biseriafim s2nnos(S ; tarsi breves, plantis dense hreviter pubcscentihus, articulo 3*" hiloho. Metasternum liirsutum.
A genus of somewhat doubtful position, agreeing with the Cfenos- celhuc in the spinose tibia? and the foi'in of the sternal pieces and mandibles, but differing from them entirely in the antennae, whicli arc much like those of a Cj/rtognatlius {e.g., G.forficatus'). The thorax may be taken as essentially of the same structure as that of Gtenoscelis, but witli its chief characteristics less strongly pronounced ; the sculp- ture of the surface is not very different from that of Ct. dijrraclms, ^ , but the lateral crenulations are very faint, and the anterior angles are not advanced or distant from the neck, whence the sides are rounded so that the widest part is at two-thirds the length.
ApOTEOPHUS SIMPLICICOLLIS, 11. sp.
Nigi'o-jnceus, cnpite scuteVo pectoreque aurro-fiih^o piibescentibus, cl ytris fulvo-castaneis ; capite antice (cum mandilml is) spnrsim punc.tato, postice crebre punctulato ; tliorace omnino tenuiter marginato, svpra nitido ; elytris tenuissime rvguJoso-punctatis, sub-nitidis ; abdomine piceo-rttfo, ginbro. Long. 1 ioi. 9 lin., ^ .
In general form and proportions similar to Gtenoscelis oter, but nnich smaller, and differing conspicuously (besides colour) in the nar- row thorax, with its anterior angles obtuse and not remote from the sides of the head. The elytra are tawny rust-brown, the rest of the body being dark piceous, with the legs and the abdomen a little redder. The antenna? are only two-thirds the length of the body, robust, and sub-serrated ; the short 12th joint is distinctly articulated ; the 1st joint is short, and forms a thick curved club ; the porose concavities of the joints begin at the outer apex of the 3rd joint, and become suc- cessively larger until they occupy the whole outer sides of the terminal joints. The anterior legs are shorter than the others, and the tibia) relatively much broader.
One male example only ; from the Province of Parana, in Brazil.
DiNOPRlONUS, nov. gen. (sub-fam. Jl^g oso mince) .
(^ . Gorpus marpnum, eloncpilo-oblongnm, supra glaJirum, nitidiim.
Giiput maximum, 2)one oculos elongaliim, crassum. Jlanilihula rxscrfa,
robustd, intus edentata ; palpi breves, apice haud dilatati, truncati.
Oculi haud ex.tfanfr.'!, supra anf/uali.^ Thorax rapHc dioiidio hririor.
50 [August,
transversus, nntice paulo angustatus, incrmis, mnrgine Intrrnli acuto, valde currato ; dorso Icerir/nto. Eh/tra tliorace scpties lonyiora, jjostice paulo aiigustata, apice rofundato, supra Icevi(/ata, utrimiue (j^aadricostata. Fro- st ermmn curvatum ; mesosternum parvum, triangulare ; metatlioracis episterna postice valde angustata, acuminata. Abdomen metasterno hrevius, segmento qxiinto ventrali hrevi, lato, medio profunde emnrginato. Pedes comjiressi ; tarsi angusti, articulis 1 — 3 parvis, imguiculari cceteris conjunctis plusquam duplo longiori. Antenncs corporis dimidio paulo longiores, articulo primo hrevi, crasso, 2'^° annuUformi, 3*° quam primo vel quarto duplo longiori, cylindrico, asperato ; 4 — 10 hrevibus sub- triangularibus, H'"^" paulo longiori.
The essential characters which distinguish this genus from ^go- soma are the extremely short and narrow basal joints of the tarsi (which, however, have the usual cushion of dense hairs on the soles), the short and triangular antennal joints from the 4th to the 10th, and the nearly atrophied mesosternum, which forms only a minute tri- angular plate between the coxjc. The monstrous development of tlic head is probably sexual. It is far more bulky than, and, exclusive of the exscrted robust mandibles, twice the length of, the thorax.
DiNOPEIOinTS CEPnALOTES, n. sp.
Castaneus, Icevigatus, elytris rufo-castaneis ; mandibulis extus sca- brosis ; capife et tliorace subtilifer jiunctulato-rugosis, J/oc medio Iccvi ; elgtris sp)ao'sim tenuissime puncfulatis, costis duubus exterioribus ante medium conjtmctis, omnibus apicem versus abhreviatis, ihique suh-reticu- latis ; corpore subtus sj^arsim pubescenii. Long. 2i in., ^ .
India.
-iEeogkamml'S, nov. gen. (sub-fam. JEgosomince) .
$. Corpus elongato-oblongum, supra glabrum. Caput postice eras- sum hand angustatum ; oculi supra angusti, parvi,distantes ; mandibula parva, edentata ; j^dj^i brevissimi, apice hand dilatati, truncati. Tliorax capite paulo latior, quadratus, lateribus fere reef is, inermibus, carina laterali inferiori curvata. Elytra fere parallela, apice rotundato, sutura denlata, supra utrinque fort iter tricostata. Prosternum arcuatum, apice vix dilaiato. Mesosternum planum. Antenna corp>ore triente breviores, filiformes,fere glabrce,punctat(B, articulis 5 — 10 intus sulcatis et poliosis, 3'" paulo elongato, cceteris gradatim decrescentibus.
A genus closely allied to uEgosoma, but differing very greatly in facies ; its chief structural distinctions being the thick posterior part of the head, narrow upjjcr h)be of the eyes, much less elongated third an+cmial joint, and panilk'l-sidcd tliorax^
1S75.} 51
^ROOUAMMUS RUFUS, 11. Sp.
Omnino testaceo-rufns ; capite et thorace densissime granulatis, eh/tris passim suh-conjlncnter punctntls, xitrinqiie costis Icevihus trihus valde cJt'vatis, interiorl ahhrevintn. Long. 1 in. 2 Tin., ^ .
Entirely of a clayey-red colour, abdomeu somewhat paler; glabrous a])oye, very finely pubescent beneath. The granules of the head and lliorax run together and form areoles on the forehead and the disc of the thorax, and there is an imperfect smooth dorsal line down the middle of both. The thorax is a little broader than the head, transverse- quadrate, as broad behiud as in front, but with slightly waved sides ; the rim of the jironotum runs along the flanks above the acetabula in a curve with the concavity upwards. The elytra arc a little broader, and six times longer, thaii the thorax.
Interior of Xorth-Westem Borneo (Lieut, do Crespigny).
^GOSOMA AXOUSTATUM, U. Sp.
j^. tihiali (White) nffine. Elongatum, angustum, nigro-fusmim, sub-opacum ; capite tliorace et sctdell o Jlnvo-piihcscentihiis, elytris glahris; thorace supra viultitiiheroso, punctnto et granulate, spina acuta luterali, angulis jyosticis elevatis, acutis ; elytris parallelis, suhtiliter fjranulatis, apice inermilus, utrinque costis duahus nitidis, prima ante ap)icem minus elevata et cum secunda conjuncta. Antennis (?) corpore vix hreviorihus.
Long. 1 171. 4 lin., $ .
Differs from ^. tihiale by the minutely granulate and strongly costate elytra, and by its narrow linear foru?. Resembles in shape JE. cingaJense, AVhite, but is destitute of the densely laid yellowish pu- bcsence which clot lies llic whole ii[)per-Hurface in that species. The first costa of the elytra commences at the base, and is there strongly elevated, towards the middle it becomes rather fainter, and at three- fourths the length unites with the second, which is very strongly raised ihrougliout, but does not quite reach the base or the apex.
Ceylon.
Note. — jEgosoma javanicum, Kedtenb., Colcop. Novara, p. 202, is evidently the (J of ^. marginale, Fab.
Temnesthes, wot'. yc«. (sub-fam. Anacolince).
? . Qe7i. Anacolo proxime ajjinis ; dijfcrt elytris mox j)one basin valde anrjustatis, apice sub-acutis. Antennce corpore vix breviores, articulo 2''" paulo elongato, 3'" quam primo duj>lo hiugiori, cylindrico ; 5 — 10
52 [August,
ad apicem ramiim gracilem emittentihus, 4 — 1 1 extus tricarinatis. Th or ax quadratus, medio utrinque spina longa, robusta, armatus ; mar gine post ico medio quadratim lohntiis.
Agi'cos with Anacolus in its well-developed second antenna,] joint ; but in sculpture the joints 4 — 11 have the earinated form of Mijzo- morplms, instead of the numerous stria) of AnacoJiis. The antennae are longer and more slender than in either genus, and the branches emitted \>y joints 6 — 10 are much narrower and more pointed. The thorax is sinnlar in form to that of Myzomorplms ? , but the lateral spine is more median, longer and stronger, and placed much above the lateral rim, and the hind margin is produced into a broad truncated lobe over the base of the scutellum. The prosternal process is broad and flattened ; the mesosternum deeply sulcate in the middle. The meta- thoracic epistcrna are not cut obliquely on their outer side, but are nearly parallelogrammical in outline.
TEMlfESTHES LOBICOLLIS, U. sp.
Depresstis, suhopacus; capite, tliorace,pnlpis et antennis nigro-ceneis, elytris violaeeis basi late aurantiacis ; pedibus, pectoris medio abdomine- que Jlavo-testaceis ; capite tlioraceque creberrime punctulatis, breviter pubescent ibus, hoc incequali, medio et postice depresso ; scutello grosse punctata; elytris grossius sub-confluenter pvmctatis. Long. 10 lin., $ .
Broad and plane on the upper-surface, scarcely shining, the thorax, undcr-surface and legs clothed with a short erect blonde pu- bescence. The apical joints of the palpi are triangular. The thoracic spines are long, robust, and laterally compressed, and are quite detached from the lateral rim of the pronotum ; the surface of the thorax is unequal, and broadly depressed in the middle. The elytra reach to the apex of the third ventral segment ; their sutural edge is strongly incurved a short distance behind the scutellum, and each elytron thence tapers to the obtusely pointed apex ; their surface is very closely but not finely punctured ; the lateral margin is fulvous for a short distance behind the shoulders.
Bogota. One example so ticketed from Mr. W. W. Saunders' collection.
EETTHHiEiaTS, nov. gen. (sub-fam. ErythrcenincB) .
Suh-familicB Anacolinarum ajpnis. $ . Corpus angusfe oblongum.
Caput verticale ; mandibula iiitus acute unidentata ; palpi breves, ar-
ticnlo ultimo conico ; ocidi valde emarginati, ttnue granulati. Thorax
sub-quadratus, medio utrinque valide spinosus, carina laterali obliterata.
1875. 53
Elytra valdc ahbreriita, vix ditnidiinn nhdomlnis scymmti primi trfjentirr, apice truncata et utrhique hispinosa. Alee ut in gen. Myzomorphus etc. plicatce. Frosternum apice jrroductum, conicum. Mesostcrnum depressum, angustum. Jfefastenii episterna paralhdogrammica, iqnce paulo angus- tata. Pedes valde compressi, asjjei'ati ; tarsis hrevissimis. Antennce (?) corporis dimidiian vix siqyeranfes, siib-ser rates ; arficulo priinobrevi, cylindrico ; 3 — 5 medio valde compresses (3*° ca'teris multo longiori) ; Wmo Irevi, suh-rotundato ; 3- — -7 intus 8 — 11 omnino dense porosis.
The thorax of tliis extraordinary Longicoru approaches in form that of Purpiiricenus ; but the anterior coxa? are greatly elongated, and lie in transversely elongated sockets like the Prionidce, and there is a trace of lateral rim separating the pronotum from the flanks, lying below the lateral spine and forming an obtuse ridge, so that there is no doubt of its belonging to the Prionidcs family. It differs, however, from the Anacolince (with which at first sight one would be inclined to place it) by the parallelogrammical metathoracic episterna and other characters.
EeTTHE^NUS B0RNEENSI8, n. sp.
Anguste ohhngus, reficuhito-2)tmctatiis, roseo-ruher, antennis elytro- rumque apice macula magna (anticejlavo-marginata) nigris.
Long. 10 lin., ? .
Sarawak, Borneo ; one example. The upper-surface is glabrous, the under-surfaco and legs clothed with fine erect pubescence. The head, epistome, eyes, labrum and mandibles are similar in form to those of BTgzomorplius scutellaius 5 , but the palpi arc very different, being shorter, and having their terminal joints tapering to an obtuse point, and the sides of the cheeks terminate in a long spine. The eyes are much more finely granulated. The antenmc are more robust, steel- black in colour, and having a very short scape very slightly widening from base to apex. The abdomen is very similar to that of the ? Myzomorphus ; tumid, with flexible integument and truncated fifth ventral segment. The short elytra are dehiscent at the suture, broadly and obtusely truncated, with a long sharp tooth in the middle of the apical margin, and another near the exterior angle ; like the thqrax and head they are covered with shallow punctures or pits, which leave narrow interstices forming an elegant network when viewed under the lens. The tips of the membranous wings are black.
Ijartholomt'W Koad, Kentish Tuwu, N.W. : June, 187*5.
5.1. [August,
ON THE COLEOPTEEA OF KERGUELEN'S ISLAND.
BT CIIAS. O. WATEKnOUSE.
The few species of Coleoptera brought to tliis country by the Rev. A. E. Eaton from Kerguelen's Island, have already been referred to in this Magazine {ante p. 2). They are only Bix in number, and are all apteroua ; the larger Rhynchophorous insect, which 1 have named Cnnonopsis, has the elytra united.
The following arc the descriptions : —
BRACHELTTRA.
ALEOGHABIDM.
Phttostjs atriceps, sp. n.
Ruf o-testaceus, breviter pubescens, capite abdominisque segmentis quatuor basalibus nigrescentibus. Long. 1| lin.
Statura P. mp'iveniris, at paulo latior. Ruf o-testaceus, vix nitidus. Antennis capite thoraceque conjunctis vix longioribus, apicem versus parum incrassatis, articulis tribus basalibus elongatis, primo sccundo paulo lougiori, tertio pra?ccdenti breviori, elougato-obconico, quarto sub-quadrato, reliquis nigrescentibus, 5 — 10 brevibus, pcnultimis 4 transversis, articulo ultimo ovato. Capite rotuudato, subtiliter crebre punctulato, posticc carina transversa circumdato. Thorace capite paululo latiori, longitudine vix latiori, supra depresso, subtilissime coriaceo, basin versus paulo angustato, angulis rotundatis. Elytris thorace vix angustioribus, basin versus angustatis, longitudine } latioribus, subtilissime coriaceis, humeria obliquis. Abdominc niti- diori, nigrescenti, apice rufescenti, lateribus fere parallelis.
A single example.
The tarsi in this species present no particular difference from those of P. nip'tvcnfris ; the claws, however, are distinctly longer and more slender.
RHYNCHOPHORA.
BBA CRTDEBIDIN^.
CANONOPSIS, gen. nov.
Rostrum short, thick, truncate at the apex ; antcnnal scrobes small, deep, and somewhat reniform, oj^en in front. Antenna) placed very near the apex of the rostrum, long, but not very slender, scape just reaching the front margin of the thorax, slightly enlarged at the apex ; funiculus with the 1st and 2nd joints elongate, the Ist rather longer than tlie 2nd, 3rd joint short (about two-thirds the length of the 2nd), the -Ith, 5tli, and (Itli joiat.s gh)bular, the Tth a little broader than the
Gth, the club cone-shaped. Eyes roiiiul, iiunlenitely prominent. Thorux as long as broad, gently constricted in front and behind the middle, truncate in front and behind. Scutellum very small and triangular. Elytra not broader than the thorax at their base, convex, gradually enlarging to the middle, and then again narrowed to the apex. Wings absent. Legs moderately long, femora strongly clavate ; anterior tibise nearly straight ; apex of the posterior tibia) truncate, hollowed, the margins ciliated. Tarsi spongy below, the 1st joint as long as the two following together, the 4th joint a little longer ; the claws curved, separated.
Intercoxal projection of the abdomen wide, nearly straight in front and at sides ; 3rd and 4th segments equally short, much shorter tlian the 2nd segment. General form elongate, sub-fusiform.
This and the following genus appear to me to be evidently allied to Brachyderes.
Canonopsis seeiceus, sp. noD.
Sub-fusiformis, convexus, flavo-griseo-sericeus. Antennis pieeis,
clava nigra. Fronte fovea magna impressa. Thorace latitudinc hand
longiori, supra longitudinaliter canaliculato, canalicula ante medium
expansa atque utrinque tubercula obsoleta instructa. Elytris basi
thorace baud latioribus, at 3i longioribus, elongato-ovalibus, pnnctato-
striatis, interstitiis vix convexis, interstitio secundo vittis duabus velu-
tinis nigris ornato. Femoribus basi pieeis.
Long. 5i lin., elytr. lat. 2 liu. Many examples.
AaONELYTRA, gen. noo.
Rostrum short ; antennal scrobes small, round. Antenna) placed close to the apex of the rostrum, rather stout, scape reaching to the front margin of the thorax ; funiculus with the 1st and 2nd joints slightly elongate, Bub-equal, the 3rd to 7th joints very short; club elongate cone-sliaped. Eyes round, very slightly prominent. Thorax as long as broad, truncate in front and behind. I'^lytra with distinct shoulders, well embracing the abdomen ; each elytron with tlie apex broadly rounded. Wings wanting. Legs moderately long ; femora not very much thickened towards the apex ; tibia) nearly straight, the apex hollowed out, the margins ciliated ; tarsi with the basal joint a little longer than the second, claw-joint rather longer than the basal ; claws separated.
Intercoxal projection of the abdomen broad ; 3rd and llh seg- ments equal, much shorter than the previous segments.
5G [August,
AaOiS'ELTTRA LONGIPEXNIS, 5/?. Jl.
Elongata, nigro-picea, cinereo-sericea. Capite antice angustato, fronte foveola Icviter impresso, rostro supra bicarinato ; anteimis piccis, clava uigrescenti. Thorace levitcr convexo, longitucline haud latiori, antice posticeque paulo angustato, lateribus medio leviter rotundatis ; dorso carina lougitudinali nitida. Elytris basi tboraee i latioribus, fere quadruplo longioribus, medio paulo ampliatis, Icviter jjunctato-striatis, iuterstitiis planis ; humeri^ obtusis ; biugulo elytro ad ajjicem rotundato. Coi-pore subtus pedibusque piceis, nitidis, femoribus supra tarsisque nigrescentibus. Long. 3i lin., lat. ii lin.
Antenna) moderately long and stout, 1st and 2nd joints of tbc funiculus slightly elongate, sub-equal, tbe 3rd joint shorter, the 4th to 7th becoming gradually shorter and slightly transverse. The silky pubescence which covers the head, thorax, and elytra, is fine, and not very close on the former. The elytra strongly embrace the abdomen, and are broadest about the middle, truncate at the base ; the shoulders angular, but obtuse. The tibia? are very slightly flexuous.
Var. Silky pubescence green, appearing golden in some lights.
Many examples.
Agonelttea anqusticollis, sp. n.
A. longipenni affinis, antennarum funiculo articulis 3 — 7 trans- versis, thorace supra haud cariuato, elytrisque poatice latioribus tantum discrepans. Long. 83 lin.
This species is extremely close to the j)receding ; but the antennae are shorter, owing to the 3rd to 7th joints of the funiculus being transverse, the 6th and 7th very strongly so. There is no distinct carina on the thorax. The elytra ai'e broadest behind the middle, and are very broadly rounded at their apices. The silky pubescence is yellowish.
The male is much narrower than the female.
Four examples.
Agonelttea geacilipes, sp. n. Nigra, griseo-pubescens. Capite supra fere piano. Thorace capite paulo latiori, longitudine paululo angustiori, medio pariim anq)liato. Elytris basi thorace 5 latioribus, ad medium gradatim anqjliatis, postice angustatis, convexis, supra depressiusculis, leviter [)iiiK-lato-«1 riatis, interstitiis plauiusculis. Antennis piceis, clava uigres- centi. Pedibus longis, gracilibus ; tarsis articulo tertio bene dilatato.
Loi%. 11 — 2s lin., lat. \ — h liu.
1875] 57
The elytra arc gently rouiKled at tlic base; the shoulders are distinct, but very blunt. Eight examples.
Agonelttea bretis, sp. n.
Nigra, renescens, parce viridi-grisco-pubescens. Rostro eupra longitudiiialiter leviter impresso. Thorace longitudino baud latiori, eonvexo, antice posticeque angustato, lateribus bene rotundatis. Elytris basi thorace f latioribus, 2.V longioribus, ad medium gradatim ampliatid, apicem versus angustatis ; convexis, eat fortiter punctato- striatis, interstitiisplaniusculis. Antennis piccis ; clava magna, nigres- centi. Pedibus uigresccutibus, femoribus basi tibiisque intus piceis.
Long. 2j lin., lat. 1 lin.
A single specimen only.
British Musciun : July 2nd, 1875.
DESCEIPTION OF A NEW SPECIES OF LOXaiCORN COLEOPTERA FROM NEW ZEALAND.
BY D. SIIAEP, M.B.
ZOEIOJf BaTESI, 71. sp.
Nitidum, Icete violaceum, antennis ajnce fuscis, arfic7iJis S G Ir/si alfudis ; cli/fris disco singulo macula alhida parva ; pedihus elongatis, fusco-violaccis^femorihus basi albidis, colorihus ahruptc designatis.
Long. carp, vix 3 lin.
Closely allied to Zorion minutum and apparently differing there- from only by the colour, and the more elongate form, tlie legs and antenna; being notably longer than in the red Z. minutum. The size of the spot found on the elytron differs in the two specimens before me, it being in one of them so small as to lead me to believe that in some individuals of the species it may altogether disappear.
Two specimens sent from Auckland, N. Zealand, by Mr. F. Lawson, are all that have yet been received. A more elegant little crealure it would be difficult to imagine, and I have great pleasure in naming it after Mr. 11. W. Bates, who has recently systomatised and greatly added to our knowledge of the New Zealand Longicoru Coleoptera. One of the individuals above described is now in Mr. Bates', the otber in Mr. 11. Lawson's, collection.
Thoriihill, Dumfries :
May 2,^th, 1875.
5S I August,
BEEVES DIPTERARUM UNIUSQUE LEPIDOPTERARUM INSULiE KERQUELENSI INDIQENARUM DIAGNOSES.
EEV. A. E. EATOJf, M.A.
The following descriptions relate to some of tlie insects mentioned in tLe first article of the present volume. The colours specified were for the most part noted in living examples. The affinities of the genera will be discussed in my final report to the Eoyal Society on the Zoology of Kcrguelen's Island. Meanwhile, Amalopteryx, Ajyefcsnus, Calycopteryx, and Anatalanta may be referred to the MuscidcB ; Sa- tirytus to the Tipulidce ; Limnophyes to the CecidomyiidcB ; and ^«i- hryonopsis to the Oelcchiidce.
Genus AMALOPTEETX, n. g. ^i ' -
Alls anguste linearibus longis, prope bases singulariter transverse replicatis posticeque reflexis, plica inter costre articulationem areaeque suturalis basim transiente, apice et margine autiea breviter setosis ; costa brevissima articulata abrupte abscissa, sub-costa margini anticse pro costa continua, nervorum cubitalium ad alae apicem antico poene, postico plane, excurrente, suturali medium vcrsxis margini internae confluentc, costula frenuli paulo costii longiori nervula transvcrsali cubito suturali adjuncta ; capite thoraceque abdomini latitudine sequalibus, bene uon dense setosis, oculis remotis, pedibus validis, femo- ribus posticorum robustis tarsisquc proximo articulorum longissimo ; abdomine ovato, quinque-articulato, genitalibus protrusis. '
A. MARITIMA, n. Sp.
Fuliginosa, pedibus setisque atris ; capite thoraceque setis erigen- tibus longis, antennis nigris, abdomine pilis appressis atris ; corpora in toto pubc microscopice brevissima arctissime apprcssa fuliginea.
Long. corp. 3 mm.
Apud litora communis.
Genus APET.EIS'US, n. g. Alls squamiformibus minutis, halteribus parvis, capite thoraceque vix abdomine angustioribus, corpore bene setoso, oculis I'cmotis, pedibus niediocribus proximo articulorum tarsalium longissimo, abdomine acute ovali sex-articulato genitalibus baud retractis. Larvis inter Bcopulos maritimos in algis viventibus.
A. LITORALTS, 71. Sp.
Atra aterrime setosa, alis nigricantibus oblongis lento ante apices emarginatis satisquc costas versus atro*sctulosis, halteribus paliide
1875. : r)9
testaceis vol, cum jmlviiiis, albidi^», oro pallido, oouli« piceis, abdomine Bubtus pallido strigji longitudinal! atra in maculis duabus ad secundum segmentorum divisa, linca spiraculari pallide cinerca, ovipositoris proximo et tcrtio articulorum nigro liueatis, ovis pallido ocliraceis.
Long. Corp. (^ $ -lo — 5 mm.
Habitat inter acervata maritima, larvia pallido grisois in Entero- viorphd viventibus.
Genus CALTCOPTERYX, n. g. ' Psene aptera, alia minutissimis gemmascentibus lialteribusque brevibuts et parvis, capite thoraceque vix abdomine anguntioribus se- tulia raris brevissimis, oculia remotis, pedibus longis proximo articu- lorum tarsalium secundo longiori, abdomine auguste lineari-ovato sex-articulato, genitalibus protrusis. Larvie in quisquiliis viventibus.
' C. MosLETi, n. sp.
Atro-corvina, pedibus atris, tarsis alia oculisque piceis, facie cox- isque aurantiacis, vertice antice transverse facile quasi crista galli tenuiter inflato ; setis thoracis vix perspicuia atris, corpore toto alisque pul)e microscopicebrevissimasubolivaceaappressavestitia, setulis super abdominem atris, minutia interspersis, ventre luteo vel aurantiaco, genitalibus antice versia.
Long. corp. ^ 8 — 9, ? 8 — 105 mm.
Habitat copiose super l^rimjleam untiscorhiUicnm, larva in foliis marcidis vivcnte.
Genua ANATALANTA, n. (j. ' Aptera anhalterata, capite tlioraceque longitudine abdomini siib- H<|iialibu8 aed multo angustioribus, longe et aparsieaime aetosis, oculis rcmotia, pedibua mediocribus, postremi taraorum proximo articulorum secundo breviori, abdomine late ovali depreaso 8CX-articulato,genitalibua intus susccptis. Larvia carnivoris.
A. APTERxV, n. sp. Nigra, oculis pedibusque piceis, femoribus supra nigricantilxis, corpore pedibusc^ue pilis microscopice brevisaimis appressis atria crc- brcrrime veatitia ; capite utrin([uo supra oculos aetia divcrgentibus ercctia longia duabua atria duabusquc ad ocellos brevioribua deprcssia, fronte utrinquo in gena seta curvata ; mesothorace su|)ra ii(riii((iie seta patente longa unaquo rcclinata, brevi, postice breviler (piadri- setoso ; metatliorace in dorao quoque quadri-aetoao intermediia aelaruni extimis paulo brevioribua.
GO [August,
Long. Corp. 5 — 5'5 mm.
Ilabitaut Bub lai^idibus litoreib ct avium cadaveribus frequentant.
Genus HALIRTTUS, n. g.
Capito minimo tlioraci paulo retracto, antcnnis bre^dbus robustis sex-articulatis, proximo articuloi'um magno, palpis brevissimie binar- ticulatis, labro scutiforme, thorace dorso gibbo spiraculis anticia pro- minentibus, apiculo mesothoracis sparse et brevissime setoso, alia debilimis permiuutis spatbulatis nervis carentibus, balteribus pcdi- busquc gracilibus longis, bis non calcaratis, proximo articulorum tarsalium loiigissimo, secundo lougo, ceteris brevibus ; abdomine quinque-articulato ovipositore brevi ; mare ignoto.
H. AMPHIBIUS, n. sp.
Niger, capite virescenti-griseo, oculis labroque nigris, antennis pallide cinereis,alis halteribusque opace albicantibus,pleuris pedibusque virescenti-griseis, his minute nigro setosis ; abdominis segmentis lineia dorsalibus curvatis obliquis et apicibus anguste albicantibus, sparseque apud setularum radices pallido punctulatis ; ventre virescenti-griseo apicibus segmentorum pallidis, partibus obscuris nigro circumdatis pallidoque punctulatis, segmentorum aliis in basis medio divergenter nigro bilineatis, aliis nigro strigatis ; valvulis ovipositoria proximo articulorum nigro apicali testaceo, lamina apud ovipositoris basin ventrali scutiformi apiculo bifido, antice nigra pallide punctulata.
Long. Corp. ? 4 — 5 mm.
Habitat inter Enteromorjpham ab fcstu maris ex consuetudine inundatam.
Genus LIMNOPHYES, n. g.
Capite parvo paulo tboraci retruso ; antennis mediocribus, sparse pilosis, sex-articulatis, proximo articulorum robusto, ultimo longissimo ; palpis quinque-articulatis, ultimo articulorum longo ; thorace robusto, dorsi antice breviter producto ; alia refertis, margine interna et apicali tenuiter ciliata, cubitorum antico in medio furcato ramia aimplicibus sub-costre paulo post furcam nervulo transversal! adjuncto, postico brcvioriter furcato ramis quoquc simplicibus, et suturali simplice ; pedibus gracilibus non calcaratis minute spinulosis, proximo articulorum tarsalium longissimo ; abdomine acuto, septem-articulato.
L. PusiLLUS, n. sp. Capite tboraceque lutescentibus, oculis nigris, antennis griseis ai'ticulo baaali pallido, tergo thoracis nigro macula magna in medio
1S7;,.1 61
latcribuequo antico ochraceis, pectore mcsothoracis nigricanto, pcdibus griscis coxis albiclis, alis vix cinerascontibua ; abdoininc opaco virc- sccnti-griseo, subtus tribus segmentorum apicalium nigricantibus.
Long. 1 mm.
Habitat in locis paludosia inter muscos. Sa>pisBimc in fcnestriH quoque reperiebantur.
Genus EMBRTOXOPSIS, n. g.
Palpi labiales longi, sursum curvati, squamis appressis, articulorum proximo brcA'issimo, secundo mediocri, et tertio acumiuato ceteris cou- juuctim longiori ; antenuis simplice filiformibus, abdomine longitudine vel $ a?qualibus vel ? paulo brcvioribus, articulorum basalialiisparum majori ; alis anticis acumiuati-ovatis convexis, abdominis maris fere ad apicem, conjugis usque ad medium attentis, sub-costa vix ala; medio attinentc, cubitorum simplicium antico pa^ne ad apicem medio in apico excurrentibus, postico ab apice quam antico remotiori, et suturali fere ad margiuifi interme medium producto, transversalibus carentibus ; alis posticis perminutis baud abdomini attinontibus ; genitalibus mai'ia appendicibus latissimis, liorum superioribus super intermedios late inductis, ano brcviter rostrato ; ovipositore femina) extensili binarti- culatc*
E. IIALTICELLA, n. sp.
(^ ? . Fuliginosa ocln*acco varia ; antennis atris, articulo basali, vcrtice palpisqueocbraceo conspersis ; alarum anticis striga per medium longitudinali lata ochracea, posticis pallidis ; pedibus sub-ocbraccis ; abdominis latcribus ochraceis ; maris appendicium superioribus mem- branaceis latissimis parabolicis extrinsecus equamosis intus glabris arete intermediis ubique applicatis ; intermediis corneis latissimis ro- tundis, extus nudis, politis nisi ad bases longe et sparse pilosis, lutes- centibus intus pilis ocbraceis reclinantibus copiosissime obsitis ; f ul- turis penis piceis robustis apicibus conniventibus parum attenuatis, subtus setulis obliquis pallidi testaceis bene bai'batis ; valvulanim brevium aualium dorsali scapboidea carinata testacea, ventrali liiicai-i picea.
Long. corp. 5 — 5'5 mm.
Habitat inter Festucas, larvis intra surculos vaginasque foliorum
F. CooMi et F. erectce inventis.
Croydon : 18/A June, 1875.
• In maribvis Gelfchiidnrurii squamis detritin notanda sint — anus in rostro prnductus valvtilis duabus, altera dur.sali altcrt iiifcriori, clausus ; penis gracilis sub-cylinrlriciis apico iiiciao bifido vel obliquo : fnltura! jicnis An^'lica; " penis sheaths ") vel robnstnj vel siaculifonnos ; appendicium pares (\\u>, infcrioribus carentibus (nisi intermediis coaloscant) intcrniedii latissimi niagni inar- ticulati plus aut minus imbricatim a superioribus inarticuKitis superatrati. — A. E. E.
02 [August,
Occurrence of Psnmmodins porcicollis, III., in Cornwall. — -At the end of last June, wliQe searching for Coleoptera on the beach at Wliitsand Bay, a very picturesque, but wild and unfrequented part of the Cornish coast, I was fortunate enough to pick up a single example of a Psammodius which has been determined by my friend Mr. Gr. C. Champion as P. porcicollis, 111. This species has already appeared in some of our catalogues, on the authority of a single specimen mixed with P. sulcicollis, in the British collection of the Rev. W. Kirby. It is, however, omitted by Dr. Sharp from his catalogue.
I found the beetle on the sand under a tuft of Ononis a few yards above high water-mark. Strict searching on this and subsequent occasions has as yet failed to produce any further traces of the insect, beyond a dismembered pair of elytra, which I found a few days ago. — James J. Walkee, R.N., H.M.S. " Swiftsure," Plymouth : July 17th, 1S75.
Captures of Coleoptera in the Manchester district. — The following species may be worth noticing : — Platysoma ohlongum ; a single specimen, found under bark of pine several years since. The pine was a fallen one, and I cannot, of course, tell from whence it came.* Atomaria impressa, under decaying mugwort (Artemisia vulgaris) on the banks of the Mersey, near Northern. Myrmecoxenus vapor ariorum, under a piece of wood, on a duug-hcap, in a farm-yard at Withington, in early spring. Hydroporus ohsoletus, out of Sphagnum on Chat Moss. Choleva colonoides, in decaying fungus ; Cis vestitus, on decayed branches of oak with small Boleti growing on them ; and a black Anapsis (which Mr. Rye tells me is apparently undcscribed) conspicuous by its unicolorous antennae, in decayed branches of oak, and in Boleti growing upon the trunks of oaks ; — in Dunham Park. Homalota hepatica and Homalium Alla/rdi have also occurred to me.
I may also mention an enormous species of Blaps (larger than B. gages), which was given to me alive, found in a cotton mill at Asliton-under-Lyne. — J. CnAPPELL, 1, Naylar Street, Hulmc, Manchester : July, 1875.
On cwpturing, killing, and setting Ilymenoptera. — I read in the June number of this Magazine, with some surprise, an article " On killing and preserving Ilymen- optera," the recommendations contained in which I am totally unable to discover the utility of pubhshing. I am in the constant habit of seeing collections of Hymen- opiera, brought to me for identification or otherwise, and I am delighted at their perfect state of preservation ; they arc well pinned, well set, and leave nothing to be desired ; these, I usually find, arc prepared according to my own method.
Dr. Kriechbaumer's belief that the method he recommends is the best that can be adopted, results from 30 years' practice ; but, after mature consideration, I come to the conclusion that if it were put into practice by mj'self, the result would be the spoiling of three-fourths of a season's collecting.
The method of killing Hymenoptera is, I admit, of groat — I may say vital — importance. I quite agree with Dr. Kriechbaumer that sulphuric ether, chloroform, benzine, or cyanide of potassium should never be xised ; but I have never found, by the use of any of these (I have tried them all), that the limbs "became, very soon,
* Mr. Chappell has submitted this insect {a well carded and unpinned specimen) to me. The genus beuig doubtful a.i British, it is much to be regretted that Mr. Chappell, who has only recently seriously occupied himself with Coleoptera, did not at the time of capture know the importance of obtaining evidence as to the tree in wbjih his insect waa found.— E. C. R.
1«75.] 63
tender and stiff " : on the contrary, I have found tlicm become hard and rigid ; eo much so, that I have found it difficult afterwards to relax them into a fit state for setting. It is also stated that the use of the above materials renders the chance of preserving specimens very difficult, if not impossible ; I can only understand this by supposing the word ' preserving ' to signify ' setting.'
I have not, of course, tried the method recommended, nor ain I likely to do so, since my ovrn method, employed by me for the last 38 years, has enabled me to form a collection life-like in appearance, every siDccimeu being symmetrically set with its wings and legs expanded in a manner that enables me to examine every part, and the tongue also frequently extended, so that the genus to which an insect belongs can be readily determined.
Now, what is the method I am advised to adopt ? I am to procure a number of glass bottles, wliich are to be half-filled with dried moss ; those intended for the smaller species are to have pieces of paper, to enable me more readily to find the insects when emptying the bottles ; each bottle is to bo charged with sulphuric vapour, obtained by inserting a lighted sulphur match ; the bottles thus charged are to be closely corked ; the vapour, we are told, does not " easily evaporate," and insects can be put into it two or three hours after they have been caught, when they soon die. IIow they have been treated during these " two or three hours " I am not informed ; but, from what I read afterwards, I conclude they have been writhing on pins pierced through the thorax, — to which I decidedly object. This method, more- over, entails the total destruction of the contents of a bottle, should it get hot by exposure to the sun, as the vapour then turns to liquid ; in which case, all pubescent insects must be entirely spoilt, and others, less pubescent, be very materially deteriorated.
My advice is, never pin any living Ilymenopterous insect. It is unnecessary ; and every pubescent specimen is more or less (humble-bees entirely) spoilt by so doing ; more or less liquid is sui-e to ooze from the wound in the thorax and mat the pubescence.
Having caught a bee or wasp in my net, I am advised to use a pair of pliers and seize the insect by the leg, in order to put it in the bottle : — this appears to mo a bungling mode of proceeding. The bottle method is also sometimes subject to a sad catastrophe ; if so much of the vapour has evaporated that it is not sufficiently potent to kill insects quickly, we are told that they bite off the antenna; and limbs of each other, or crawl about and besmear themselves with the matter that oozes from their wounds.
The use of grooved boards is recommended ; the groove to have at the bottom "some holes made perpendicularly, and filled with cotton-wool;" the pins that arc pierced through the bodies of the insects are to be stuck into these holes ; the legs of the insects are to be arranged in the grooves as best they can be ; the wings then stretched on the surface of the boards, and secured in position by pieces of paper pinned at each end ; I can imagine the difficulty that must very frequently occur in this part of tlic process. Little more than an expansion of the wings is accomplished so far ; wlien the wings are set, so as not to droop or fall backwards, the insect is to be removed from the setting board and the legs turned out by means of strong needles. If the wings are set, I venture to affirm that no proper arrangement of the legs can be accomplished ; the legs must be as immovable as tlie wings.
(J.J, [AUfjiist.
I will, as briefly ns I can, describe my own 7iiethod of eaphu'ing and setting Hymenoptera, and leave it for Hymenopterists to try both methods, and make known their opinions which is the better. I capture my insects with a bag-net (when I consider a net necessary, because I really capture three-fourths with my fingers) made of the very finest white net that is manufactured, 22 meshes to the inch ; this is only to be procured at a few of the best shops in London. When collecting, I carry a good supply of the best block pill boxes of different sizes, packed in a flat tin case that fits a satchel ; this prevents the boxes being crushed in travelling to my hunting-ground ; on arriving there, I transfer the boxes to the righthand pocket of my coat ; when I capture an insect in my net, I select a proper sized box, take off the lid, and secure the insect in it against the side of the net ; then, with a little manipulation, I put on the lid. The insect is now quite uninjured, with not a hair on its body ruffled. Each capture I thus secure in a separate box ; these boxes I put into the lefthand pocket of my coat ; and when I have filled a number, or have taken some great I'arity, I put tliem back into the tin case ; if a i-arity, I fi'cquently put the box in which I first secured it into one a size larger. Before starting on an excixrsion, I examine all my boxes, to be sure that the lids fit closely ; if they do not, a strip of paper pasted round the rims makes them secure. On arriving home, I proceed to kill the insects ; I take first the largest boxes used and raise the lids on one side, so as to leave a very narrow opening to admit the fumes of sulphur ; I then pile the boxes one upon another in a pyramidal heap, and over the pile I place a bell-shaped glass, usually six inches in diameter, but the size will vary according to the number of boxes. I then take a little powdered sulphur on the end of a thin piece of flat wood (a match in fact), light the suphur, and place it beneath the bell- glass ; this process will sometimes require repeating once or twice, until the sulphur will no longer burn beneath the glass ; it is then sufliciently charged. In this condition I leave it for about half-an-hour ; I then empty the contents of the pile of boxes uito two or three larger ones, recharge the bell-glass, under which I place the boxes of insects, and leave them until the following morning ; the insects wiE then be in a proper condition for setting. Every insect will be foimd to be in the most perfect condition ; pubescent ones, such as humble-bees, have not a hair disturbed, and they can be pinned without a chance of any liquid oozing out of the thorax and matting the pubescence.*
My method of setting and drying specimens is as follows :— For the latter pro- cess I use a di-ying-cage with door and back covered with net (perforated zinc would answer as well, if not better) ; the cage has several setting-boards resting upon slips of wood, and corked on one side, the cork being half-an-inch thick, thus allowing the insects to be pinned at a proper height.
The setting process is very easy and simple : havijig run a pin through the
thorax, slightly before the middle of its disc, I mount it on to the setting board,
running the pin into the cork vmtil the under-side of the thorax very nearly touches
the cork ; the next thing to be done is to arrange the legs in a natural position by
• Sir Sydney Smith S.avinders has coimmmicated the following to me, which is, I think, an improvement on my own method of piling up the boxes for the sulphuring process :— '* In using "the bull-glass, I .always pack the pill lioxes within by reversing the ghi.ss, retaining them there " by two slips of mill -board placed cross-wise, therein' keeping them remote from the lighted " s\ilphur, whose fumes ascending until the glass is filled therewith, never necessitate a second " application ; but all must depend upon enabling the sulphur to bimi freely at first. These fumos "penetrate without partially opening the lid, as ^ suilf into any such boxes will readily "manifest." — F. S.
isrs.] 65
(he iiiil (^1' fine pliers ami sotting-necdlos, scouring llu' linihR in position, whon iioc'C9sai:T, with pins ; on each side of the specimen I place a table for expanding the wings upon ; this is simply a strip of good stout Bristol-board, that is, stout card ; these tables must be of various sizes, and used according to the size of the wings of the insect ; having fixed the tables firmly, I place the wings upon them with a setting-needle, and having, by a little manipulation, if necessary, hooked the wings together, pusli them forwards into the required position, liolding them there with a needle, until, with a brace made of a strip of card shorter than the table, and pierced through at one end with a pin, the wings are secured in their proper position ; the last process is to arrange the antenna) : this can cometimcs be done by placing them on the end of the table on wliich the wings are spread ; but, in the majority of cases, it nmst be done with pins.
The time necessary for insects to remain on the setting-boards depends upon a variety of circumstances ; I am here alluding only to insects recently caught ; in the lieight of summer, if dry and hot, a fortnight may do for small or slender insects, but I seldom remove any so soon ; Bomli should, even in hot dry weather, remain at least a month, and at other times must be left five or six weeks, or the wings will be apt, in damp weather, to fall out of position.
This method avoids even the possibility of any of the dire effects to which insects are liable when treated after Dr. Kriechbaumer's method, as ho candidly admits ; every specimen will now be in the most life-like position, and can bo thoroughly examined in every part of its structure: nothing more can possibly be desired, that I can imagine, and yet Dr. Kriechbauraer states, in his paper, that my method leaves " much imperfection " ! — Fkedk. Smith, British Museum : July, 1875.
Abnormal absence of an ocellus in a Trichopterous insect. — This morning, when engaged in making drawings, under the microscope, from a Trichopterous insect taken at the Hospice St. Bernard, and which I believe to be a $ of the little-knovra Acrophylax zerberus, Brauer, I noticed that the left lateral ocellus was totally absent, although the right lateral and intcr-antennal ocelli were quite normal, as was all the rest of the insect. I do not remember to have seen a parallel instance of deformity in insects anywhere recorded. Not only is the ocellus wanting, but the lateral cavity in which it should bo placed is also nearly obliterated. — R. MoLaculan, Lewisham: 4i/i June, 1875.
An addition to the knov;n species of British Trichoptera (Stenophylax rotundi- pcnnis, Brauer) . — Being at present occupied with tlic genus Stenophylax in connection with my 'Revision and Synopsis of ICuropean Trichoj)t<yra' the materials in my collection, both British and continental, are naturally undergoing a close examination. One re.«idt is, that I find, carelessly mixed with S. stellatus (or mther with the form I have hitherto considered as racJtatu.s), a pair (<? ?) of S. rotxindipennis, Brauer, taken by myself near Scarborough in the second half of August, IHfifi. It may be separated from stcllnlus by its more rounded anterior-wings in both sexes. The last (81 li) dorsal si^gment of the ^ has two largo rounded roughened black si)aces, and the superior appendages are nuich broader and sliorter. In the ? the last (Uth) dorsal segment has an clongatcly triangular median ]irolongation, and thus is quite different to the formation seen in stellatus. On the continent it occurs in Austria and ISavaria, and I believe in other parts of Germany, and in Holland. Continental cxanqiles arc paler (more yellowish) than the British pair, which latter resemble stellatus in coloration.-- lo. : I7th July, 1875.
G(j [August,
On Aplecta oerulta, with dcscrii^tions of the larva and pupa. — For tk poinplote set of figures of the larva, and tho opportunity of studying the history of this species from the egg, I liare been indebted to many kind friends, to whom I offer my grateful tlianks, beginning with Dr. F. Buchanan White, who, on October 6th, 1868, sent me four young larv£E swept from heather at Achilty, Ross-shire, which, though put on a growing plant, died in thp following February. Next, I received on May 1st, 1869, from Mrs. Hutchinson, a full-grown larra brought safely through the perils of hiber- nation, but which unfortunately died soon after while in the process of changing to pupa. In tho samo year, on the 18th of August, Mr. Lougstaff, then staying at Cluny Hill in Morayshire, forwarded me part of a batch of eggs laid altogether in a heap by a female moth he had imprisoned for the purpose : the eggs were laid two and even three deep in parts of tho heap ; they hatched on tho 27th and 28th of the month, and tlie larva? were reared, some to full-growth, by the end of October, pupating in November, and others again at the end of January, 1870 : the remainder of the brood continued to look well until the end of February, when a death or two occurred, and through March they died off rapidly, the last dying during the first week of April, when about one-third grown : a fatality also attended the pupa;, as no imago resulted from them.
Tho attainment of tho final metamorphosis, completing the history of occulta, I owe to the kindness of Mr. J. B. Blackburn, who, on his return from Rannoch, presented mo, on August 29th, 1874, with twenty young larvre, then between two and three weeks old, which he had reared from eggs laid by a very black female captured tlicre. Somo of these soon outstripped their companions in growth, tho earliest changing to a pupa on September 22nd, and others at intervals up to December -Ith ; and from some of these four moths were bred on October 13th, November 23rd, December 7th and 22nd, respectively, four pups still remaining.
Of the larviB that continued to hibernate quite small up to the middle of March, 1875, 1 have been unable to save any ; for, after moulting twice they seemed too weak to feed, and died mere empty skins, the last on the 6th of April about three-fourths grown.
The food on wliich Mrs. Hutchinson reared her larva was heather, bramble, sallow, and Sumex crispu.t ; and to those reared from eggs I at first gave Polygonum aviculare, though their first meal was on the egg-shells, which they totally devoured ; afterwards they had, besides the Polygonum, sallow and heather, birch and bramble, Vinca major and Pumex pulcher, and the last larva; from Mr. Blackburn wore fed on Polygonum, then or birch and sallow, with bilberry, afterwards dock and bnunblo, finally on dock, sallow buds and catkins.
The egg of occulta is globular in shape, a little depressed on the summit, and rather flattened beneath, the shell ribbed and finely reticulated, of a pale straw colour when first laid, afterwjards becoming a pinkish-drab, and at last a dark lead colour. The newly-hatched larva is of a pellucid whitish-green, with minute black dots ; on the third day becoming greener on the back, yellow on the sides, and head pale brown ; after moulting twice it is yellowish-grey on tlie back and belly, dark greyish-brown on the sides, the dorsal and sub-dorsal lines dirty whitish, the latter edged above with black near the end of each segment to half-way along the next ; the palo yellowish-white sub-spiracular stripe, so characteristic of this larva, now first appears with a black line above it. On becoming five-eighths of an inch long, it
1875. 67
is so dark iis to appear almost black, (hough in nality the sides ar(> darker than the back, especially towards the spiracles, where the blackest part being in contrast with the pale jellowish-white stripe below, makes it appear very brilliant ; the black sub- dorsal streaks have now become thickened into wedge-shapes, broadest at the twelfth segment, where their bases arc only separated by the thin and much interrupted yellowish-grey dorsal line : at this stage, in their captivity, it was that the precocious individuals began rapidly to increase in size, and attain full-growth in autumn, some of them keeping almost black to the last, others showing a mouse-coloured ground tint, more or less between the black markings ; in these lighter examples the black marks were greatly reduced, in two instances to the merest rudiments.
The full-grown larva measures nearly two inches in length, stout in proportion, cylindrical in figure, though tapering a little at the thoracic segments to the head, which is the smallest segment ; the thirteenth, sloping down from the back, tapers a little towards the end which is rounded off ; the general appearance is plump and full, though the segmental divisions are very well defined, and the two usual trans- verse wrinkles towards the end of each segment can, in their plumpest state, be generally seen.
As regards colour, the head is usually brownish-grey, streaked on tlio front margin of each lobe, and reticulated at the sides, and freckled above the mouth, with blackish or with dark grey ; the ground colour of the body varies in individuals from a light mouse colour to the deepest greyish-brown ; on the second segment is a semi- circular smooth, but dull, plate of rich reddish-brown edged with black in front, through which runs the beginning of the usual lines, which arc also continued faintly through the similar brown-coloured anal flap ; the dorsal fine line is in most cases pale yellow, sometimes, at the very last stage, seen quite uninterrupted, but often much obscured ; the yellow sub-dorsal line, a trifle thicker, runs its course in a festooned manner, when visible, forming a series of curves, the end of each curve bearing the hinder tubercular yellow dot ; the dots, in threes on either side of the back of each segment, are always visible, and sometimes dingy ochreous-yellow, but the sub-dorsal line is sometimes absent ; within the sub-dorsal lino on the back of each segment, in front, is a more or less broad, black, velvety, blunt wedge-shaped mark, and the ground colour between these marks often so thickly covered with blackish coarse freckles as to give a blackish appearance to the whole area of the back ; on the side, as far as the spiracles, the ground colour is often quite as much obscured with black freckles, while in some examples this part is freckled equally with yellow and black ; but it is always bounded below by a vclvety-blaek fusiform or triangular mark, bearing just within its lower edge the black spiracle, which, tliough not readily seen, may often be observed to be delicately margined with grey; immediately beneath comes the broad stripe of consjjicuously bright yellowish-white, narrower on the second segment, and widening gradually to the Cflh; suffused in the middle of each with a tinge of orange or of pink, and having a chain-like series of blackish and grey freckles running through its middle : the belly and legs of the ground colour are generally much paler than the back, but freckled with black at the sides, more sparingly towards the middle.
Among the larva; sent me by Mr. Blackburn, some beautiful varieties were developed. Directly after their last moult they seeniod to be qiute black and velvety, but with a brilliant sub-spiraeidar wliilisli stripe, as the skin became more expanded by their increasing growth, the gx'ound colour began to appear by degrees on the back and sides, in the interstices of tiie black freckles, of a cool grey tinged willi a rusi) hue, and banded aero.-d the front of the beguients witii a sufl'usioii of blackish-
(}8 r August,
brown. Those tlmt hibernated and moulted in the spring, and attained to half and three parts growth, were differently coloured from any of the others, for, althougli the details of markings were similar, the ground colours were rich, warm, bronzy- browns.
The pupa of occulta is nearly one inch in length, stout in proportion, of the usual Noctua form, the tail ending in two small points a little divergent ; the surface roughened by minute pits and striations, except at the divisions of the abdominal rings ; in the nowly-changed pupa these were flesh colour, but after a few days became dark red, and soon after turned like the colour of the rest of the surface, a blackish-purple ; through these parts the wings and antenna; cases still have the purple rather redder than the rest ; the spiracles blackish. — William Buckler, Emsworth : June \^th, 1875.
Is Larentia ccesiata double-brooded ? — In reply to the Eev. J. Hellin's query in this month's E. M. M., page 7, 1 very much doubt if Larentia ccesiata be ever double- brooded in this country. The species abounds on aU the rocky parts of our moors, and the imago is in beautiful condition in June ; but although the species is very plentiful throughout July, the specimens seem to be nearly always battered and worn. Wo sweep the larva from ling in May, but I think I have never seen it later, certainly not in July, when the second brood would be feeding ; nor have I ever seen an imago in August, unless it bo a poor specimen at the beginning of the month.— Geo. T. roBEiTT, Huddersficld : June 7th, 1875.
Larentia ccesiata and rujicinctata. — The Rev. J. ITcllins wishes a decisive opinion upon the so-called single or double -broodedness of the above moths. From Mr. Hollins' own observation, there is no doubt about L. rujicinctata having two broods at Exeter. In Scotland, the favourite home of L. rujicinctata is on the rocky hills wliero Saxifraga hypnoides is plentiful, and here I should certainly say both species are single-brooded, L. ccesiata ap])earing two or three weeks before the other. — T. CuAi'MAN, Qlasgow : June 10th, 1875.
Se-occtirrence of Ualonota ravulana. — It is with pleasure I report the re- occurrence of Ualonota ravulana. After some years' searcli in its old locality, Mr. E. Meek took a single specimen this year, and immediately informed mo of its capture. On a later date he kindly presented me witli a specimen ho took in my presence, and I subsequently obtained one myself. The insect is undoubtedly scarce, as many excursions have failed to produce another specimen to me. Meek informs me he has taken three in all, a poor return for the time and trouble expended in searching for it. — Sydney Webb, Ecdstone, Ecdliill : 8/// July, 1875.
Dicroramj^ha tanaceti. — I liave at last taken this species, and most oddly, within a quarter of a mile of my own house, in a kitchen-garden. The patch of tansy is only a few feet in extent, but it has been there upwards of thirty years. I have looked for the insect for nearly that length of time, and never had any excejit some half-dozen specimens which were sent me by my late lamented friend Mr. DorviUe ; and I feared, now that I had lost my friend, I had lost all chance of again seeing tanaceti.
It is a very distinct species when one comes to know it and sec it alive. My spe- cimens correspond admirably with Mr. Barrett's description of the rich yellow scales ; besides which, the size makes it strikingly different from D. herhosana. The small females almost look like some specimens of D. acuminalana which I take. — J. B. iloUGKiNsoN. 15, Spring Bank, Preston; June 23rd, 1875;
IS75.1 ()()
3'
ci'ica'3.
The LKriPorTERiSTs' Caibndau, giving tlio time wlicn tlie British Lepidoplera appear in tlio egg, larval, and imago states ; with the food-plant and habitat. 13y JosKPiT Mkuuix. Second Edition, enlarged and corrected to the present time ; tiniall 8vo, pp. 250. Q-loucestcr: Herbert Marsden, 1875.
We tliink that this little work will bo found very useful by beginners in the t'tiuly of British Lepidoptera. Its compilation must have cost much time and trouble, and on the whole is satisfactorily done, and it is neatly printed and got up. It brings before the young collector, at a glance, those species which ho may expect to meet with, in their various stages, in any particular month, and will act as a good incentive. Of course, allowance must always bo made for difference of latitude and altitude, and also for the forwardness or backwardness of the seasons in different years. At tlie end, is a list of plants referred to, with their English names, and a systematic list of our Lepidoptera, with indications of the mouths in which they appear as larva) or imaj;03.
North Staffoeushiee Naturalists' Field Club ; Annual Addresses, papers, &e. ; Svo, pp. 266. Hanley, 1875.
It does infinite credit to the Naturalists of Nortli Staffordshire that, after an existence of only ten years, their Field Club can produce such a handsome volume as that before us, with papers of real interest, several of them by authoi's well known beyond the limits of their county. The majority of the papers are geological, with an admixture of archaY)logy, which, rightly or wrongly, always seems to be insepar- able from the Natural History work of Field Clubs. Entomology is not so well represented as it should be, and is limited to a list of the Macro- Lepidojitera of the district, compiled by T. W. Daltry, M.A., F.L.S. The term " Macro-Lepidoptera " is made to include the Crambites, and we find tliat, up to this point, 379 of the 1)83 Britisii species have been taken in N. Staffordshire, including some very local insects.
Obituarn.
Henry Donhleday. In the first decade (1809 and ISIO) of the present century were born, at Epping in Essex, two brotliers— Henry and Edward Doubleday — who were destined, after somewhat different manners, to have their Jiames indissolubly corniected with the science of Entomology in this country. The brilliant cai'eer of llie younger (Edward) was prematurely cut short in 1819. The elder (llenry) passed from among us on the 29th of June last, after a short period of great suffering, and was I)uried at his native phioc on the 4tli Jidy. For many years Mr. Doubleday liad been more or less a valetudinarian, and it was hoped by his friends that what proved to be his fatal illness might be only a more than usually severe, but not serious, attack, — a liope in wliich they were un]iai)pily mistaken.
We have said that the entomological reputation of the brothers Doubleday was acquired in different manners. Edward, when scarcely more than 21 years old, shewed that the bout of his mind tended more towards the philosophical bnmch of the subject, and he early expanded his ideas by lengthened foreign travel, llenry remained at Epping, and at that time there was perhaps scarcely any spot in tlieso islands more favourable for the development of a naturalist of the Gilbert White class, which he proved himself to be ; — a careful, conscientious observer rather than a scieu-
7() [August,
tide zoolofj'.Ht. As a British Lepidoptorist, the iiamc ol' Henry Doubleday hsis become ft household word. What was pi'obably liis first printed eommunication appeared in tlic 'Entomologist' in 1811, detailing his wonderful success in capturing NoctucB at the blossoms of sallows, at that time a novel procedure. Very soon afterwards, in 1812, he introduced the now familiar plan of 'sugaring,' the first captures by that means recorded being two specimens of Folia occulta, whicli appears both in the ' Entomologist,' p. 407, and in the ' Zoologist,' vol. i, p. 30 ; a list of captures at sugar in the autumn of 1842 appearing in the same volume of the ' Zoologist,' p. 201. One consequence was that our cabinets soon became full of species of Noctuce that had hitherto been reputed rarities. In 1843 occurred what may be considered the great event of his life, one that had an especial influence upon Ljpidopterology in this country. lie then visited Paris, and it was probably the only time he ever quitted England. He found that the nomenclature in use here and on the continent of Europe was utterly different, and, after calling attention to the subject in a ' Note on the names of British moths,' in the ' Zoologist,' vol. i, p. 332, he at once set to work- to annihilate native traditions and prejudices by publishing a catalogue of British Lepidoptera (then not including the Tinelnd) in which attempts were made to make it possible that English Lepidopterists might be understood by their brethren on the continent. It is needless to say that ' Doubleday's List ' has since gone througli several editions, and, though scarcely more than a label-list, has been of the greatest possible service.
As a writer, Henry Doubleday was not prolific. Outside his list he never pub- lished any lengthy work, though his communications to entomological jJt^riodicals were very numerous, principally on points of habit. But, nevei-theless, his corres- pondence with Lepidopterists, both at home and on the continent, was very extensive. His liberality in supplying both specimens and information was unbounded ; and no better tribute to his memory can exist thaii the few words used by Guenee, in the introduction to his ' Uranides et Phalenites,' who, in thanking those entomologists wlio had aided him, says : — " Lastly, I cannot resist the pleasure of closing this list " by a name tliat I know not how to repeat too often, that of my excellent and useful " friend llcnry Doubleday of Epping, who seems to have devoted to my work, a)id " even to the enriching of my collection, a more active zeal than that used by many " others in their own interests."
Although we are principally concerned with Doubleday as an entomologist, still it would not be just to pass unnoticed his attainments as a general naturalist, and especially as an ornithologist. There are few who have so thorough a knowledge of British Birds as that possessed by him, and his name constantly occurs in the works of YarrcU and others in connection w'lth habits, migration, nesting, &c.
His private life was marked by extreme simplicity, in an even too great a degree for material interests. For nearly ten years he had been entirely out of business, living, as he always had done, almost in seclusion, varied by the visit to Epping of some brother Entomologist atti-acted by the fame of his wonderfiU collection, and a desire to make the personal acquaintance of a man of whom so much was said, and who was so universally known by correspondence. His chief amusement was gardenine, and especially strawberry culture, in which he excelled ; and we shrewdly suspect that some of his numerous friends coutrived to Ci the period of their visits in the strawberry season.
1375.1 71
In ooTiplufiinj!; tlii^ nnlirc wp onnnot resist cnllitic; nttoiition tn events that no one cotild possibly have felt more keenly than Henry Doubleday. When he was horn, Epping was suiTouncled by one of the finest old forests in England, the eolitude9 of which were scarcely disturbed by anything save the huntsman's horn, for deer were then plentiful in it. (Who knows but that the accident of birth in such a locality may not have been the means of developing the taste for Natural History in Doubleday and his brother ?) He lived to hear in it the screech of the locomo- tive, and to see its finest portions rutlilessly destroyed ; and we can easily imagine what a satisfaction it must have heen to him to know, before his death, that, after a severe legal struggle, the little that remains of it will hereafter be unmolested.
iVfr. Doubleday died unmarried. Wliat will become of his collections we do not yet know. In addition to the purely British collection of Lepidoptei'a whieli is so far-famed, there exists a very extensive and valuable continental collection.
Entomological Society of London : ^th July, 1875. — Sir S. S. Satjndees, C.il.O., President, in the Chair.
W. Bon-er, Jun., Esq., of Cowfold, Sussex, and A. F. Sealy, Esq., of Cochin, India, were elected Members, and W. D. Gooch, Esq., of Natal, a Subscriber.
The President informed the meeting of the decease of Mr. II. Doubleday, one of the original Members of the Society, and Jlr. Sta'inton made a few remarks on his entomological labours.
Mr. Dunning said that the Ornitho'ptera from Cochin, bred by Mr. Sealy, and exhibited at recent meetings, had been identified as O. Minos.
Mr. Bond exhibited two large Curculios from New Fribourg, Brazil, attached to the same twig, and both attacked by a fungus. Mr. Janson said they pertained to the genus Hylopus, and were weU known to be subject to such attacks.
The President exhibited a lock, taken from a gate at Twickenham, entirely filled with the nests of a species of Osmia, which Mr. Smith said was most probably O. bicornis. lie also exhibited an example of tlie minute IJylechiJirns rtibi, one of the StylopidtB parasitic upon Frosopis ruhicola in l*'piru8, recently obtained from im- ported briars, and remarked upon a method of expanding the wings of Stylopidm. In repose, tlicso wings are rolled up in an elongate form, but he found that by pressing them gently forward from below, they suddenly become erect, and are then easily re- tained an expanded condition. Further, he exhibited (^ ? of Spilomena troglodytes reared from bramble-stems found at Shcre in SuiTey, and a scries of Ilalicius nilidius- culus stylopizcd ; and recommended entomologistSjgoing to the south-coast in August,to • search for stylopizcd ILalicli. Finally, he remarked on the parasites of Osmia and Anthidium ; and exhibited two species of the Coleopterous genus Zonitis (Z. muiica and Z. hifasciata) reared from the cells of Osmia tridcntata, and a third {Z. prausta) from those of Anthidium contractum, which latter had also produced two species of ChalcididcB {Leucospis dorsiyera and Eurytoma ruhicola). lie enumerated eleven insects as attacking the same O.smia in various stages, of which ho had himself reared six species, including the two Zonitea aforesaid ; the other four being Crypttix limac- ulatus, Melitohia Audouini, Ilallicella osmiicida, and Chrysis indiyotea ; Dufour and Perris having also recorded Slelis minuta, and two species of Uiptera, Senometopia spinipennis and Conop.t Jlavipes ; two other Crypti {C. confu.ior and C. siynaiorius) being cited by Dr. Giraud. The Zonitis devoured the egg and pollen-paste whereon the Sleli.? also subsisted ; the C/irysis, Crypti, and Senometopia fed upon the soft larva) externally ; llalticella was reared within the more solid adult lai-vo", whoso iiitegimient, dessieated and black (ii.s in .specimens exliibited), serve<l fur t lie liibernul ion
72 (August, 187::;
of tlio parasito ; fhc Mcl/lohia df^strojod the njniph in its soft state by e'stornal iittack ; and llio Couopx deposited its egg in tlio body of the bee itself after maturity. Specimens of this Osmia ahve, and of the briars from which they were produced, were also exhibited.
Mr. CJiampion exhibited a series of recently-captured individuals of Chrysomela cerealis from Snowdon, its only British locality. Mr. McLacldan stated that he had recently seen this species in the Department of the Saone et Loire in France in great luimbers, each ear of wheat having several of the beetles upon it, and remarked on the singular nature of its sole habitat in Britain.
Mr. G-rut exliibitcd nests of a trap-door spider, containing living inmates, sent from Port Elizabeth, South Africa, by Mr. Bidwell. These nests were not (as is usiuil) in the earth, but in cavities in the bark of trees, and the trap appeared to bo formed of a portion of the bark, thus rendering it almost impossible to detect the nests when in a closed condition.
Mr. Riley, State Entomologist of Missouri, exhibited sundry of the insect pests that do so much damage in his State, including the Rocky Mountain Locust (Calop- tenns spretus) , and entered at some length into the habits of the insect, and the vast anwunt of destitution caused by it, stating that in a short period it devoured almost every li\ ing plant, leaving nothing but the leaves of the forest trees, and converting a fruitful coujitry into an absolute desert. From a knowledge of the habits of tho insect, and believing in its inability to exist in a moist climate, he had predicted that its ravages would not extend beyond a certain line, and he had seen these predictions fulfilled almost to the letter. Having noticed that hogs and other animals grew excessively fat from devoming the Locusts, and considering that tho use of them as food for man would tend to relieve some of the distress occasioned in the devastated districts, lie had, shortly before leaving St. Louis, organized a banquet at which the Locusts, prepared in various ways (especially in the foi-m of soup) were served up, and they were pronoiuiced to be excellent. He distributed a number of baked Locusts among the Members present. [These were tasted, but with no general expression of satisfaction : they were pronounced excessively greasy, and probably the best comparisoii was made by a Member who stated that they resembled burnt mutton fat ; the ehitinous external integument was also disagreeable]. Mr. Kiley further stated that he was desirous of taking a supply of cocoons of Microgaster glomerattis to America, to lesson the ravages of the larva; of I'ieris rupee ou that continent.
The following papers were read : —
Prof. Westwood's Descriptions of new Heteromcrous Coleoptera belonging to tho family lilaptidce.
Mr. Butler on a new species of Myriopod from Jfongolia.
Mr. C. O. Watcrhouse on new Coleoptera from Port Bowen, Australia.
Mr. Hcwitson forwarded a note respecting a paper by Mr. Butler in tho first part of the Transactions for 1875, in which it was suggested respecting Netrocoryne beata and N. Denitza that Hewitson's figures of these species [Exot. But. Vol. v] were wrongly numbered. Mr. Hcwitson said they were numbered quite correctly, and that he believed they would be foimd to be the sexes of N. beata.
The President stated that this was the last meeting that would be held at Burlington House, and tliat due notice woidd be given when the arrangements at the Society's now rooms at 11, Chandos Street, Cavendish Square, were completed, the Library having been already removed to that place.
Mr. Dunning proposed, and Mr. McLachlau seconded, a cordial vote of thanks to the Linnean Society for the permission to hold the meetings at their rooms, so long enjoyed by the Entomological Society. Tlis was carried by acclamation.
September, 1875.] ~JJ
DESCEIPTIOXS OF HITHERTO UNCHARACTERIZED SPECIES OF PHYTOPHAGA.
BY JOSEPH S. BALY, F.L.S.
Fam. HISPID^. Geuus CRABISPA.
(Ediopalpa, olirn, Cat. Hispidae, p. IG. Chabispa amicula.
Elougata, modice convexa, C(S)'uleo-nigra, nitida, tliorace riihro, eJi/h'is fere edquilato, utrinque intra latius longitudinaliter excavato ; elijtris punctato-striatis, metaUicO'Cceruleis. Long. 3 lin.
Hab. : Para.
Front concave ; antenna; equal in length, to the licad and thorax, third joint more than twice as long as the second, fourth and fiftli equal, eacli shorter than the third. Thorax nearly twice as broad as long, sides straight and parallel on their basal half, rounded and converging from the middle to the apex, anterior angles not produced, sub-acute, hinder angles slightly produced, acute ; upper surface deflexed on either side in front, remotely punctured, anterior and lateral borders narrowly edged with piceous, basal lobe also piceous ; on eacli side near the lateral margin ia a broad longitudinal depression, the surface of which is coarsely variolose-puuctate. Scutellum not broader than long, pentagonal, its apical angle obtuse. Elytra slightly broader than the thorax, sides parallel, apex regularly rounded, apical border distinctly serrate ; upper surface moderately convex, minutely granulose-reticulate, regularly punctate-striate, humeral callus tliickened.
The mucli more elongate form will distinguish this insect from C. laticollis, the only species with which it can be confounded.
CUAEISPA ELOXGATA.
Elongnta, angustata, nigro-ccBrulca, nitida, thorace rufo, apice plagCi trigonatd nigra, elgtris abdomineque tnetallico-cceruleis. Long. S^ lin. Hab. : Rio Grande ; in my own collection.
Front concave ; antemiie longer than the head and thorax, third joint equal in length to the first and second, fourth and fiftli, each one-third shorter tlian the third, equal. Thorax broader than long, sides straigiit and nearly parallel, very slightly converging from the base to beyond the middle, thence rounded and converging to the apex, anterior angles obtuse, hinder acute ; disc not excavated on the sides, tlxc latter distinctly margined ; surface remotely punctured, apex with a large triangular black patch which extends entirely across the apical border, and backwards for one-fourth the length of the disc ; basal lobe piceous, separated from the disc by a transverse groove. Scutellum scarcely longer than broad, sub-pentagonal, impressed near the apex by a transverse groove. Elytra broader than the thorax, parallel, narrowly rounded and distinctly serrate at the apex, the extreme apex obtuse ; upper surface minutely granulose, regularly punctate-striate.
The narrow elongate form will at once separate this species from its congeners.
74 [Si:iitcnibui>
Ciiarispjl c^rulesceks.
Suh-elongata, cceruleo-nigra, nifida, supra (antennis exceptis) metal-
licO'Cceruleus, thorace transverso, utrinqiie intra marginemlongitudmaliter
excavato, ad latera et ad hasin foveolato-punctato, disco fere impunctato ;
clyfris regulariter punctato-striatis, apice obsolete denticulatis.
Long. 3 Jin. Hab. : Babia.
Front concave ; antennro one-third the length of the body, tlurd joint nearly equal in length to the first and second, fourtli and fifth nearly equal, each one-third shorter than the third. Thorax nearly one-third broader than long, sides straight and parallel at the base, slightly sinuate at the middle, thence rounded and converging to the apex, anterior angles obtuse, hinder acute ; surface -within the sutural border broadly excavated from the base to the middle, excavated portion and the basal half of the disc impressed with large round variolose punctures, rest of the surface nearly free from punctures ; basal lobe separated from the disc by a transverse groove. Scutellum broader than long, pentagonal, all its angles obtuse, surface smooth, im- pressed with two transverse grooves. Elytra broader than the thorax, sides parallel, apex regularly rounded, apical border obsoletely serrulate, above minutely granidose- reticulate, their colour deeper and brighter than the thorax, regularly punctate-striate.
Genua CEPHALOLEIA.
Cephaloleia emaeginata.
Elongata, nigra, nifida, svpra ccerulea, anfennis rohustis, nigris ;
thorace snb-re7)iote vai'ioloso-punctato, margine antico utrinque ad latus
emarginato ; elytris parallelis, apice minute serratis, supra modice con-
vexis, utriusque infra hasin excavatis, regulariter punctato-striatis.
Long. 2 — 2\ lin. Hab. : Para, Santarem.
Front concave, space between the antennsD occupied by a longitudinal ridge ; antennae equal in length to the head and thorax, robust, three lower joints nearly equal in length. Thorax rather broader than long, sides straight and nearly parallel, very slightly converging from base to apex, hind angles acute ; anterior margin distinctly notched on either side close to the anterior angle, the latter incurved, obtuse ; placed in the middle of each notch is a small tubercle, only visible under a deep lens ; upper surface shining, impressed with large, round, variolose punctures, remote on the disc, rather more crowded on the sides. Scutellum transverse, sub- pentagonal, lateral angles obtuse, the apical one slightly produced, acute. Elytra broader than the thorax, parallel, rounded, and converging near the apex, the latter obtuse, apical border minutely serrate ; upper surface moderately convex, smooth, impressed on the basal half with fine, irregular, transverse strigae ; regularly but not coarsely punctate-striate, interspaces not thickened. Apical segment of abdomen broadly tnuicate-emarginate, the emargination occupying nearly the whole width of the apex.
1875.] 7.')
Cephaloleia c^ruleata.
Suh-elongata, suhtus nigra, supra metal! ico-ccerulea, antennis nir/ris, thorace transvevso, latcrihus rcclis, purallelis, npice rotunddtis, anguJo antico acufo, iJorso foveohito-puiictato, disci medio fire impunctato ; elytris thorace paullo latioribus, parallelis, regidariter punctato-striatis.
Long. 21 lin.
Hab. : New Friburg, Brazil. A single specimen iu uiy collection, formerly in the possession of the Lite A. Uoyrolle.
Iload coarsely punctured, space between tlie eyes sliglitly raised, its surface fliittened ; antenna; lialf tlie length of the body, scarcely thickened towards the apex, basal joint sUghtly thickened, third nearly one-half longer than the second. Thorax one-third broader than long, sides straight and parallel, slightly sinuate just in front of the hinder angle, suddenly rounded and converging at the apex, anterior and pos- terior angles acute, the latter slightly produced laterally ; anterior margin armed on either side, a short distance within the anterior angle, with a short obtuse tooth ; upper surface smooth and shining, closely covered on the sides with large round fovese, disc nearly impunctate. Scutellum pentagonal, not broader than long, its apical angle very acute ; sm-face smooth, impressed towards the apex with two transverse fovese. Elytra broader than the thorax, the sides parallel, apex obtusely rounded ; above moderately convex, somewhat ilattened on tho disc, transversely wrinkled at the base ; on each elytron just within the humeral callus is an ill-defined oblong protuberance, the space between the latter and the suture indistinctly exca- vated ; granulose-reticulate, strongly punctate-striate, interspaces thickened on the sides and apex. Apical segment of abdomen rounded, slightly sinuate on either side.
Genus DEMOTISPA. Demotispa eleqans.
Late, ohlonga, depressa, riifa, nidda, antennis, hasi except is, nigris ; elytris metallico-cganeis. Long. 3 lin.
Hab. : Ecuador. Collected by jNfr. Bucltley.
Head smooth ; antcnnte half the length of the body, two basal joints rufo- piccous. Thorax transverse, equal in breadth to the elytra, sides rather broadly margin(;d, rounded and converging from tho base, more quickly rounded at tho apex, anterior and posterior angles obtuse ; upper surface smooth, inijnmctate, in- distinctly excavated transversely at the base and apex ; basal margin narrowly edged with piccous. Scutellum rather broader than long, pentagonal, its apical angle obtuse. Elytra broadly oblong, sides slightly rounded, broadly margined, apical border finely serrate. Upper surface depressed, excavated on cither side just below the basilar space, regularly punctate-striate.
(To he continued).
7(5 [Septemljcr,
NOTES ON BRITISH HOMOPTERA, WITH DESCRIPTIONS OF ADDITIONAL SPECIES.
BY J. W. DOUGLAS.
(concluded from page 29).
TTPHLOCYBIDiE.
»
6. TyPHLOCTBA ArEOYITTATA.
Anomia an rot- it tat a (Fieb.), sec. Letliierry, in lift.
Slender, cliugj yellowish-wliite and golden. Crown yellow, obtusely produced. Pronotum quite one-half longer than the head, rounded in front, posterior mar- gin sub-truncate, disc pale in the middle, on each side of which is a longitudinal, broad, yellow vitta, sides pale. Scutellum yellow. Elytra narrow, broadly dingy yellowish-white on the costa and claral suture, almost as far as the mem- brane, on the middle of the cerium a golden-yellow vitta, widening as it proceeds, extends from the base almost to the membrane ; clavns golden-yellow ; memhrane fuscous, the colour extending backwards a little beyond the base of the cells on to the corium as blotches, the largest of which is next and extends on to the apex of the clavus ; nerves pale yellow. Wings transparent, the two upper nerves slightly fuscescent. Legs pale yellow, claws of the tarsi black.
Under-side and abdomen black, the segments of the latter with whitish margins.
Length, fully 1^ line.
Somewhat like T. tenerrima, but distingiiisbed by tlie shorter and less-rounded head, by the two vittae on the pronotum, by the yellow colour — notably of the vitla> of the elytra- — being of a deeper hue, and by the fuscous membrane with pale nerves.
An example of this species has been identified by M. Lethicrry as Anomia ■aitroriliata (Fieb.). It does not appear to have been described.
I beat three or four examples, on 4th November, 1S6G, from hedges composed of maple, hawthorn, hazel, &c., in a lane near Eltham, Kent.
9. TrruLOCYBA geatiosa.
TifpMocyha (jrntiosa, Boh., A^et. Ak. Handl., 121, (1853); J. Sahib., Not. Fenn., xii, 171), 8 (1871). Typld. sutiiralis, Flor, Ehyn. Liv., ii, 634, (18G1); Kirschb., Cicad., 186, 22 (1868).
Pale ochreous. Crown obtusely produced in front. Pronotum twice as broad as long, nearly twice the length of the crown, the base slightly emarginate. Elytra — clavns fuscous-brown, sometimes pale, infuscated ; corium whitish- ochreous, hyaline, with yellowish nciTcs, apical cells wholly infuscated, with two or three more or less long, fuscous dashes extending backwards on to the corium. Wings hyaline, nerves yellowish. Legs pale yellow, claws of the tarsi fuscous.
Length, IJ line.
1875.] 77
FoiHul at the end of .Time on beecli trcos at JJiri'li AVood, and in July on palings under beeches at Blackheath.
10. TriMILOCYB.V LACTEA.
A)wmia lactea, Leth., Hem. Nord, 58 (1869); 2 edit. 74 (1871).
Milk-wliite, immaculate. Head short, much rounded iu front. Pronotum twice as long as the head, posterior margin slightly cmarginate. Eliftra milk-white, sub- opaque throughout, anterior margin very narrowly reddish, nerves slightly yellowish. Wings white, diaphanous, iridescent. Letjs yellowish.
Abdomen yellowish-white. Length nearly 1^ line.
Like T. rosce, lAn., but distinguisbed by its purer wbite colour, which at once attracts attention, the somewhat shorter and broader elytra, «tc.
Ten years ago I had in my garden a seedling cherry tree, and this species was found in all stages of growth on the under-side of the leaves during July and August. I intended to describe it under the name of T. cerctsi, but M. Lethierry informs me that it is his A. lactea, described as above stated.
12. TvPHLOCrBA ALNETI.
Cicadula alneti, Dahlb., Vet. Ak. Ilandl., 181, (1851). T>fp1il. aJneti, J. Sahib., Not. Eenn., xii, 181, 10 (1871). Ti/phloci/ba cori/li, Toll., Stett. Ent. Zeit., xii, 70, 12, t. i, fig. 6 (1851); Flor, Ehyu. Liv., ii, lOi, 15 (1861); Kirschb., Cicad., 184, 16 (1868).
Pale yellowish, very glossy. Crown lunate iu front. Pronotum nearly twice the length of the crown. Elytra hyaline with paler nerves, the 1st apical cell small, the 4th obliquely truncate at the base and extending further back than the others. Winys hyaline with concolorous nerves, the 2nd trnusversc one very oblique, the 2nd longitudinal one much nearer to the 3rd than to the 1st. Leys pale ycUow, clams of the tarsi slightly infuscatcd.
Abdomen above slightly infuseated. Length \\ line.
Resembles T. rosce, Lin., but differs in the jiroportious of the apical cells of the elytra, in the obliqueness' of the 2nd transverse nerve, in the proximity of the 2nd to the 3rd longitudinal nerve of the wings, and in the form of the genitalia.
Not scarce on alder trees at Lewisham, in August.
11. TvrHLOCYBA KOSEA.
Ttjpldoci/ha rosea, Flor, Khyn. Liv., ii, 403, 14 (1861); J. Sahib., Not. Fenn., 1S3, 12 (1871). ? Ti/phl. roscipennis, Toll., Stett. Ent. Zeit., xii, 70 (1851).
73 [ September,
Pale jellowish-wliito, with a roseate flush. Head, pronotnm and xcutellum -with two continuous reddish vittae extending through them, diverging as they proceed. Head short, sub-hmate. Pronotum twice as long as the head, posterior margin slightly emarginatc. JSIi/tra : apex broadly rounded ; upper and lower margins, including the clavus, slightly infuscated, with a more or less rosy tinge ; in the michlle a transparent vitta extends from the base to the apex ; the longitudinal nerves of the corium on the apical half, and the base of the apical cells rosy, otherwise the nerves are pale. Wings opaUne. Legx pale yellow, apex of the tihicB and joints of the tarsi infuscated. Length, \\ line.
The species, according to descriptions, varies in colour ; in the ^ the corium being sometimes wholly, and the clavus broadly, testaceous ; in the $ the corium has usually a' narrow roseate vitta on the inner side, but sometimes it is immaculate.
Typhlocyha roseijjennis, Tollin, is possibly this species, but the neuration of the elytra and wings not being given, certainty cannot be insured.
I have one example, ? , taken from a fir tree (Pinus syJvestrls), at West Wickham Wood, April 19th, 1867; doubtless a hibernated individual.
Lee, S.E. : June 1st, 1875.
Postscript. — Eiopteryx notahis. Curt. (No. 2 ante), Ti/pldocyha WaUengreni, Stal. I have seen a few examples taken by Mr. B. Cooke " on Holyhead Island, 11th October last, jumping about among gorse, heath, grass, &c., a few hundred yards from the sea-side."
Eupteryx ahrotani (No. 3 ante), previously found on Artemisia ahrotanum, has recently been taken by Mr. Scott, in Hampshire on Artem- isia maritima ; and the occurrence of the species on two species of Artemisia having revived my original suspicion that it might be Typh- locyha artemisice, Kbm. (Cicad. 190, 31), I have again turned to the de- scription ; but the words " die Decken mit zerstreuten schr erloschenen " schwarzlicher Pwwc^eji besprengt," still do not appear to be appli- cable to our species, in which the dark markings of the elytra arc in the form of distinct dashes. Typhi, aihpcrsa, H.-Schf. (P. Gr., \Q\, 12), which, according to the description and figure, has small fuscous dots on the elytra" — punctis parvis rotundis f uscis — ," and, according to Kirsch- baum, resembles T. artemisice, appears to me to be still less like E. ahrotani ; therefore, at present, I must hold the latter to be distinct. It is unknown to Dr. J. Sahlberg and M. Lcthierry. June 2Qth, 1875.
Since writing the foregoing, I have seen, in the collection of Dr. J. A. Power, four examples, all ^J , oi a Typhlocyha, taken at Esher,
1S75.] 79
ill the autumn o£ 186G, wliicli is certainly Cicada ]^i7j«, Fallen. It has been rarely noticed by authors ; I can only find it cited by Dr. J. Sahlberg (who gives it doubtfully — " verisimiliter " — as a synonym of T. blandula), and by M. Lethierry. It is all but identical in marking with T. hlandula, but differs in having the tarsi of the third pair of legs wholly black, giving the insect a very remarkable character. Flor says (Ehyn., Livl., ii, 401) that in T. hlandula, ^ , all the three joints of the hinder tarsi, except the base of the first, are often black. In Dr. Power's examples the first joint like the others is wholly black. Assuming for the present that it is a distinct species, the synonymy will be as follows : —
TtPHLOCTBA TILIiE.
Cicada fiUce, Geoff., Ins., i, 426, 24 {sec. Fall., I. c. infra); Fall., Hem. Suec, ii, 57, 55 (1S2G). Ti/plilocj/la llandula, var., J. Sahib., Not. Fenn., xii, 184, 13 (1871). Ztjgina iilicc, Leth., Hem. Nord, 2 ed. 77 (1874).
15, Belgrave Tcrr.ace, Leo, S.E. : Mil August, 1875.
Capture of Mesovelia f areata, Muls. — It has fallen to the lot of Dr. Po'wer to take one of the rarest, if not the rarest, speeies of Hemiptera-IIeteroptera belonging to Britain, if not to Europe. The only specimens of Mesovelia f areata previously known to me were two, viz. : that described by MM. Mulsant and Rey in Opusc. Ent. in 1852, and that in the possession of Mr. E. Brown of Burton-on-Trenfc, captured several years ago near that town. The specimens, two in number, taken by Dr. Power are without the membrane, so that the inference is the season was a little too early. He has also taken a few specimens of the pupa, which at first sight I thought might be the imperfect form of the creature, but subsequently, through the Doctor's kindness, having been directed to the spot, I was fortunate to take it in its stages of larva, pupa, and imperfect imago. It is exceedingly active in the net, and what is more, it is difficult to see. — Jcn.v Scott, 37, Manor Park, Lee : August, 1875.
Notes cm Mediterranean Hemiptera-Kctero-ptera. — While on the IVIeditcrrancnn Station, on board II. M. S. "Swiftsure," I devoted most of my limited spare time to collecting insects, Coleoptura being my principal quest. I did not, however, neglect to secure all tlie Hcmiptem wliicli came in my way; and my somewhat unexpected return home having given me an opportunity of in:*pceting my captures (consigned to the care of my friend Mr. G. C. Cliampion), I have drawn up the following notes, wliicli may possibly be of interest to Ileniiplcrists. My very slight acquaintance with the order must be an apology for all deficiencies in this paper.
The insects were all determined by Mr. E. Saunders, to whom I beg to tender mv sincere thanks.
CjQ , September.
Omitting a few epecies of universal distribution, my captures (made between July, 1874, and March, 1875) include : — Brachypelta aterrima, Forst., common in dry vegetable refuse, &c., at Malta: Macroscytus brunneus, Fab., Gibraltar, not rarely under stones : Gcotomus punctulatus and loevicollis, Costa, and a new species ? commonly: Cydnus fuscipes, M.i\[a. and Rey, and Ochetostethus nanus, H.-Schiiff., abundantly, at Malta, by cutting tufts of herbage : Odnntoscelis dorsalis, Fieb., Gribraltar, commonly, usually found crawling in dusty roads : JElia Burmeisteri, Kiist., Taormina (Sicily), Cagliari, and Port Mahon ; occasionally by sweeping: J5. cognata, Fieb., by sweeping, at Palermo : Menaccarus,n. sp.? Balearic Isles : Sciocoris maculatus, Fieb., U7nbrinus, Wolff., macrocephalus, Fieb., an(justipennis, Muls. and Ecy, and other spp., commonly, at roots of herbage, at Malta : S. Helferi, Fieb., Port Mahon, by beating herbage: Eurygaster niger, Fab., Malta, rarely: Odontotarsus grammicus, Lin., Port Mahon and Corfu, and 0. caudatus. Klug, Malta ; both rarely under stones : Rhaphidog aster griseus, Fab., Port Mahon, not rarely under loose willow bark : Cd^rpocoris lunula, Fab., Cagliari and Malta ; baccarum, Lin., Gibraltar ; and verbasci, De Geer, Port Mahon ; all not rare by sweeping : Peribalus vernalis, Wolff, Malta : Brachyncma cinctum. Fab., Cagliari and Port Mahon, abundant on Suoeda : Scutellera lineata, Lin., Tangier and Gibraltar, by sweeping, and on flowers : Holcostethus congener, Fieb., Cagliari ; sphacelatus, Fab., Gibraltar ; and jani, Fab., Taormina; all by sweeping : Nezara prasina,'Lm.,T&r\gier, Cagliari, and Corfu, by sweeping, but rarely : Eysarcoris misellus, Stal, Port Mahon, by beating herbage : Strachia pida, H.-Schaff., Port Mahon, Cagliari, Gibraltar, &c. ; abundant on Crucifers, and very variable : S. ornata, Lin., Malta and Gibraltar, by sweeping : Glypheria wnxginosa, Cyrill, Malta, under stones : Cnjpiodontus tuberculatus, Kossi, one in a tuft of grass at Gibraltar: Ancyrosoma albilineatum, Fab., Tangier, Palermo, Taormina, Corfu, &c., by sweeping, and at roots of Vcrbascum .- Trigonosoma Desfontainesi, Fab., once, by sweeping, at Cagliari : Trigonosoma, n. sp. ? Patras : Gonocervs insi- diator. Fab., Gibraltar, by sweeping : Verlusia sinuata, Fieb., Port Mahon, by beating hci'bagc : V. sulcicornis, Fab., Malta, commonly on walls, &c. : Centrocarenus spiniger. Fab., Gibraltar, under stones : Strobilotoma iyphicornis, Malta, and Dasy- coris dentator. Fab., Corfu, by cutting tufts of herbage : Enoplops cornutus, Hoff., Tunis, not rarely under stones, &c. : Pseudophlmus Waltli, H.-Schiiff., Gibraltar, and P. a«ricitZati«s, Fieb. ? Malta and Cagliari; commonly under stones: Stenoc6phahis neglectus, H.-Schiiff., Malta : Camptopus lateralis, Germ., Cagliari, by sweeping ; a very fragile insect : Fhyllomorpha laciniata, Vill., a few specimens of this extra- ordinary little creature (which, when feigning death, exactly imitates a small, withered, spiny seed-vessel of some plant) in a tuft of Parietaria at the foot of the Rock of Gibraltar : Therapha hyoscyami, Lin., Gibraltar, by sweeping Ononis : Micrelytra fossularum, Rossi, Gibraltar: Coryzus truncatus, Ramb., and errans. Fab., Taormina, Gibraltar, and Malta : Brachycarenus tigrinus, Schill., Tangier, by general sweeping : Prionotylus Helferi, Fieb., Gibraltar and Tangier, under stones : Pyrrhocoris apterus, Lin., abundant (and generally gi'cgarious) in every locality I have visited : P. (sgyptius, Lin., with the preceding, but less numerous: Plociomerus annulipes, I3a;r., Tunis, under stones : Lyga^us militaris. Fab., JMalta and Gibraltar, common, usually flying in the sunshine: L. saxatilis, Scop., common on flowers, Rock of Gibraltar; and L. equestris, Lin., Pati-as, under stones : Lygceosoma punctato-gxdtaium. Fab., Malta
i^rr... 81
and Gibraltar, i^e. ; abundant on Verhascvm and under stones: L. reticulitiim, H.-Schiiff., Malta, Gibraltar, Palermo, Corfu, &c., generally distributed, and common under stones, &c. : Calyptonotus leucodermus, Ficb., and C. Rolandri, Lin., Malta, on stone walls ; and a pretty new species from the same island : Emhle.this arenarius, Lin., Malta and Gibraltar, and E. pilifrons, Zett., Malta, not rarely at roots of lierbage : Gonionotus Tnar'jinipunctatus,Wo\S, Tunis, under stones: Dieuchespulcher, n.-Schff., Rhyparochromus colon, Put., and niger, Fieb., and Calyptonotus phceniceus, Rossi, all common, at Corfu, by cutting tufts of herbage in January : Neurodadus hmr.lty- idens, L. Duf., Gibraltar, among grass: .Beosus saturnius, Rossi, Malta, and B. quadratus, Fab., Corfu, both commonly under stones : Nysius graminicola, Kolen., Gibraltar and Port Mahon, by sweeping: Nysius senecionis, SchilL, common in a heap of cut weeds at Malta : Hyalockilus cordiger, Fieb., Gibraltar, by sweeping: I'iezoscelis staphylinus, Ramb., Gibraltar, under stones : Ischnocoris hendpterus, Sahib., Corfu, in tufts of herbage, both developed and undeveloped : Scolopostethus iieruosus, Fieb, Gibraltar, under stones; and n. sp., Malta: Drymus, n. sp., Tunis: Oxycareiius lavatercs, Fab., in compact clusters, numbering many thousands of indi- viduals in each, on the branches of road-side poplar-trees at Cagliari; also one or two stray specimens at Tunis : OphtlMlmicus siculus, Ficb., Corfu, and albipennis, Fab., Corfu and Gibraltar; common in tufts of herbage : 0. 'pygmcEUs, one specimen, Gibraltar: Lamprodema maurunx. Fab., Malta and Gibraltar, and Plinthisus flavipes, var., Fieb., Gibraltar and Corfu; both not rare under stones: P. longicollis, Fieb., Gibraltar : P. hidentulus ? Corfu : Microplax plagiatus, Ficb., Gibraltar, abundant in sandy places at roots of herbage : M. interruptus, Fieb., and Aoploscclis livittdta, Cost., Corfu, in tufts of grass, &c. : Macropterna convexa, Fieb., Cagliari, by sweeping : Campylostira ciliatajFich.jVEbtras: Monanthia nassaia, Vut., Malta, under stones: M. geniculata and Wolffi, Fieb., Port Mahon ; M. liturata, Fieb., and ragusana, Kiist., Gibraltar ; and M. aliena, Fieb., Taormina, all by sweeping : Laccometopus teucrii, Host., Dictyonota Aubcei, Sign., and D. marviorea , Ba.'r., by sweeping at Cagliari : Lopus lineolatus, Brulle, common on flowers of "squill" {Urginea) in February at Malta : Auchenocrepis Foreli, Muls., Tangier, by sweeping : Ortkoccphalus fiavi- marginatus. Cost., and 0. minor, Cost, (both sexes of each), Malta, not rarely under stones : Xenocoris venustus, Fieb., and Lygus campestris, Fab., Gibraltar, by sweeping ; Brachyceroe^t liyalinipennis, Klug, Tangier : Piezostethus bicolor, Scholz, Corfu, in tufts: Nobis longipennis, Cost., Port Mahon, by beating herbage: Emcsodema, domesiicum, Scop., Malta and I'ulrinto (Albania), under stones : Coranus griseus, Rossi, Gibraltar and Port Mahon, not uncommon under stones ; in its earlier stages, this insect covers itself with dust, &c., d la lieduvius : Pirates strepitans, Ramb., Rutrinto, and P. stridulus. Fab., Corfu, under stones : Harpactor hwmorrhoidalis. Fab., Malta, not rare under stones and herbage : Reduvius tcstaceus, Il.-Schiiff., rare, at Malta ; possesses a very marked power of strididation : Oncocephahis squalidus, Rossi, Tunis, in sandy places : Mttastemma guttula, Fab., Gibraltar, Tangier, and Tunis, at roots of herbage : M. sanguineum, Rossi, Corfu, not rarely, by cutting tufts : Vilia, rivulorum, Fab., on running water, Palermo and Malta: Naucoris maculatvs. Fab., among water-weed at Tangier.— Jamks J. Walkeh, R.N., IL M. S. " Swiftsure," Plymouth : May 17th, 1875.
«0 [Seiitemljcr,
Occurrence in (he north of Ireland of the true Ollorhynchus moniicola, Germ. — On tlie 16tli of June last, Mr. Alliu and I captured at Kilkeel, County Down, four examples of an Otiorhynchus, eyidently referable to monticola, Germ., wliieli differs from our common northern species, hlandus, Q-yll., in being smaller, with the more visible elytral strise extending to the apex, the rostrum merely punctate (not punctate- rugose) , &c. These Irish specimens belong to the variety having the elytra more deeply striate, and with rugulose interstices; they are very small (6 miUim.) — of the same size as individuals from the Pyrenees. They were found by grubbing at the roots of Thymus serpyllum, on the coast. The occurrence of a mountain species on the coast is very strange, but a parallel instance has beeji recorded by the Rev. T. Blackburn in Ent. M. M., xi, p. 112, where JU'ebria Gyllenhali and other mountain species are noted as having been captured on the coast in Shetland. — Gr. C. Champion, 27-4, Walworth Road, London: August lUh, 1875.
Note on a few Irish and Welsh Coleoptera. — The following local species, amongst others, n\et with by Mr. Allin and myself, during a short stay last June, in North Wales, and at Newcastle, and in the North of Ireland, seem worth recording. I think, without exception, the latter locality is about the most unproductive I have yet visited. Scarcely anything but the commonest species (and those very rarely) occurred. Unfortunately, during our stay, both in Wales and in Ireland, it was wet nearly every day, aiid this, with the continual mists on the moinitains, stopped our working long. I note Pterostichus athiops, common under stones on Suowdon : Uarpahis neglectus, on the sand-hills, Rhyl : Bemhidium saxatile, on the coast at Kilkeel (County Down) : Phytosus spinifer, on the coast at Newcastle (County Down) : Oxypioda rupicola, Rye, in moss on summit of Snowdon, and also under stones on summit of Slieve Donard (County Down) : Homalota eremita, clavijjes, tibialis, &c., in moss on mountain tops, in same localities as preceding : ff. valida, Sharp, and nitidula, summit of Slieve Donard : Mycetoportis tenuis (Sharp), not rare in moss on summit of Snowdon : Staphylinus erythropterus, on the coast of Kilkeel : Anthophagus alpinus, ou summit of Slieve Donard and Snowdon : Geodromicus glolulicollis, common, and Acidota crenata, rarely, in moss on summit of Snowdon : Ilomalium riparium, abundant on coast at Newcastle : Saprinus maritiynus, coast, Newcastle : Cryptohypnus maritimus, Lough-side, Llanberis : Hydrocyphon deflexicollis, on alders, Capel Curig : Otiorhynchus maurus, var., Slieve Donard : Mesites Tardii, in mountain ash, Tollymore Park (County Down) : Chry- somela cerealis (a beautiful object when crawling about in the sunshine), not un- common, amongst stunted wild thyme on a slope of Snowdon, at an elevation of about 2800 feet, &c.
I believe one or two of the above species have not hitherto been recorded out of Scotland. — Id.
Prionophis reticularis, White, in England. — A specimen of this fine New Zealand Longicom flew into the ba<r of the "Sliip," in the Kennington Road, on the evening of the 26th inst., and was placed under a tumbler as a strange " bug " for me ; when I saw it, I recognized it as one of the Prionidce, not found in Em-ope, and tqjon looking over the New Zealand Longiconfe, found it to be the above insect.
IS75.] • S^
Although tho North Amorioan species Monocliamiis dentator, and I b(>lieYe others, have been taken here, imported probably in the larval or pupal state, I am not awaro of the occurrence before of this insect in Britain.
The insect is alive and very active ; while I am writing this, it has feasted on some decayed apple, and seems quite content with its home (a Lepidoptcrous breeding cage). Kolhing, I believe, is known of the habits of the early stages of this insect.. — C. G. IIall, Kennington, S.E. : Jidy, 1875.
Capture of Anisoxya fascula, III. — Yesterday I beat a single example of this rarity from an elm tree in this parish. In the net it looked like a small Anaspis lateralis, but it had a brownish hue, and did not behave like an Anaspis, so I resolved to take it. If it had been a better adept at mimicry, it would have illus- trated the survival of the fittest, for it would have gone the way, out of the net, of most species o{ Anaspis; but failing in exact representation, it has increased the number of the illustrious dead. Its resting place on the leaf of an elm I take to have been casual, as the species is probably a feeder on fungus or rotten wood. I afterwards beat another example out of white-thorn branches which had been used to stop a gap in a hedge close by.— J. W. Douglas, Lee : 7th August, 1872.
Note on ravages of Otiorhgnchus sulcatus.— This weevil is a great pest in nearly all the vineries about here, both in the perfect and larval states ; the larvae destroying all the fibrous roots, and the beetles sometimes eating the leader of the vines com- pletely off, which, in a young cane, is a serious injury. I have found numbers of them in the garden ; so no doubt they have been brought into the vineries with the soil. In some vineries close to us, the proprietors took out the whole vine border and put a fresh one in, only to find things as bad as ever. Hand picking at night seems to be the only resource ; our gardener catches as many as 30 or 40 in a night. But, of course, we cannot do that with the larvae, or it would disturb the vines too much. — n. H. Bolton, Jun., Ncwchurch : Julg, 1875.
Meloe brevicollis near London.— ^l have recently taken this rare species at Dart- ford. It has, I believe, been found near Keigate; but the majority of the few British specimens are from the neighbourhood of Plymouth. — Eknest S. Spiers, 21, Bernard Street, Russell Square, W.C. : Julg, 1875.
Occurrence in Britain of the galls of Andricus glandimn, Gir.—l have dis- covered in Cadder Wilderness, and at Ardlui, Loch Lomond, two or three galls of Andricus glnndium, Giraud, Verb, zool.-bot. Gesellsch. Wicn, 1859, ix, p. 355 ; Mayr, Die Mitteleuropiiischen Eichen-gallen, p. GG, pi. vii, f 92. My specimens wero collected in early summer, and only have produced Sgnergi so far. The autumn is the best time to search for the galls.— P. Camekon, Jun., 13G, West Graham Street, Glasgow : 23«Z July, 1875.
Vanessa Antiopa at Chertsey.—^l beg to inform you that on the lOtli of tliis month I caught, on St. Ann's UiU, Chertsey (Surrey), on a windy and cloudy after- noon, a splendid specimen of Vanessa Antiopa.— Ahv:x. Waillt, 110, Clapham Road, S.W. : 21st August, 1875.
Description of the larva of Xylomiges conspicillaris.—l am indebted to Jfessrs. Fam and Bird for the opportunity of describing the larva of this species (locality, near Dartford).
84 [September.
Larva stout, cjlindripal ; incisions slightly compressed. Head hemispherical, shining, rather flattened in front. Colour dull greenish-brown with an ochrcous tinge, the sides darker, all the markings faintly indicated. An indistinct grey dorsal chain pattern, each ring enclosing a grey spot. A wide, reddish-ochreous, spiracular band, the sides above it broadly shaded with grey, spiracles white, edged with black, usual spots tohUe surrounded ivith grey. Head reddisli-ochreous or pinkish-brown, reticulated with dark brown, a sepia-coloured dash on the inside of each lobe. Belly dull greenish, the sides dusted with greyish-brown. When young, the larva has a prominent orange spiracular band. Feeds on Lotus coiiiiculatus, Polygonum aviculare, and various low plants, and is full-fed towards the end of June. — ^C. Fenn, Lee : July, 1875.
Description of the larva, Sfc, of Cleora glabraria. — For some acquaintance with this species in the larval state I have been indebted to Mr. B. Lockycr, who, on the 1st of June last, kindly sent me a larva, and on the 10th six others ; and to these were added four more on the 22nd, from Mr. Tate of Lyndhurst ; all of these having been found by him feeding on Usnea barhata growing on oaks in the New Forest.
With the exception of the first individual, which died the morning after its arrival, these larvre were very active, and fed well on the extreme points of the lichen, eating them down rapidly for about an eighth of an inch, and sometimes eating off the nodes, and more rarely the cuticle from the lareer branches. I was attentive to keep their food changed, and to moisten it with water thrice a day, as I soon found, if it became at all dry, they were unable to. feed.
One larva was contracting for its final change when it ari*ived, but had not strength to complete it ; on the 16tli of the month another had apjmrently ceased to feed, and would no longer remain on the lichen, but would mount to the gauze cover of its cage, persistently returning to it as often as removed ; various substances and soils were supplied to induce it to spin up, but in vain, — however, after the lapse of some days, the mystery of its strange behaviour was cleared up by the appearance, close by it, of an ichneumon cocoon, or rather batch of four or five small cocoons spun on the gauze : another, later on, was victimized in precisely the same manner, while three others proved hcallhy and vigorous, retiring, when full-fed, into the Avct tree-moss kept beneath the lichens, where I observed they had each hollowed out a small cavity, which was kept in an oval shape by help of a few threads, rather far apart, spun across the opening ; but these could scarcely be called cocoons, for, when looking about a week afterwards, on the 28th, for the pupa?, two of them rolled out into my hand on taking up the moss, so little coherence had these slightly-made puparia.
Of the remaining four larvse, two pupated as above described, and two proved to be ichneumoned, one of these dying quite rigid, and the other lingering on, attached to the cocoon of its parasite, for some time after the pupa; had disclosed the moths, which proved fine specimens, appeai-ing from July 11th to 21sfc.
The full-grown larva is nearly one inch in length, moderately slender, and of about uniform substance throughout, the head, a trifle less than the second segment, is a little flattened in front ; the segments of the body very well defined, the thoracic ones as usual, each of the others having a wrinkle across the back at the distance of
1875.1 85
oiic-tlilivl from the beginning, and three others near tlic end ; tlie anterior k'gs developed in gradation, the shortest pair in front, the second pair a Httle longer, and the third pair the longest ; the ventral and anal pairs well developed.
In colour the head is pale greenish-white in front, light glaueous-green at the sides, reticulated with whitish ; near the crown, on each lobe, is a black streak un- didating down to the antennal papillus, and bounding the whiter face from the greener side of the head ; above the mouth is a triangular mark of blackish-brown atoms : the ground colour of the body generally is a pale blue-green, that of the back has a more lively green tinge, though so pale as to be a greenish-white ; through the back can be distinguished the dorsal line by its bluer tinge, besides a small streak on either side of it anteriorly on each segment, excepting the thoracic, wliich are broadly divided with it ; but the chief feature of the back is the row of black spots, viz. : one rather oblong spot on the whitest portion on each thoracic segment, and on the others an oblong spot just at the beginning, and another thicker, of a blunt spear-head shape, about midway towards the end of each segment, and a small spot on the anal tip, — these are upon the dorsal line ; along the boundary of the whitish colour of the back runs the row of sub-dorsal black dashes ; these are short and situated midway on the thoracic segments, and on the others are behind the first wrinkle extending nearly to the segmental division ; these vary in individualsj being in some simple oblong dashes, while in others they appear open at one end, and in others again at both ends, suggestive of parallel streaks run together in the middle ; but in all, each of these dashes is bounded below by a greenish-white dash of the same extent, followed by a group of two or three small angular black spots or streaks, amongst which is the spiracle, which, though appearing blackish, has a faint flesh- coloured centre ; next runs the inflated greenish-white sub-spiracular stripe marked with a black dash at beginning of each segment, except on the anterior ones, which are marked in the middle with a squarish spot, and a small black spot is at the base of each anterior leg ; the belly has a central faint greenish-white line with a black elongate mark on it at about the middle of each segment from the fifth to the ninth, both inclusive ; a little more behind, on each side the central line, are a twin pair of black specks, and a couple of greeiiish-white spots on each side at the beginning of each of these segments ; a very small black mark is at the inside base of each anterior leg : the anterior legs are glistening, the head and body are smooth without gloss : the tubercular dots are excessively small and dusky, each emitting a fine bristly hair.
The pupa measures about lialf'-an-inch in lengtli, and in its gi'catest diameter, at the ends of the wings, one-eighth of an inch ; the eye-covers rather prominent, and tlie abdominal divisions deeply cut, the anal tip bearing a spike finely forked at its extremity : at the end of the first week the wings were olive-green, the other parts brown, the anal spike blackish ; the whole surface glossy. — William Buckleb, Emsworth : July ZQth, 1875.
A new British Torlrix — Allahia argentana, CI. — On Jidy 10th I found a in-ctty white moth, which was evidently a species new to our lists, flying amongst the grass on the side of a mountain in Athole, Perthshire, and liaving called the attention of my companions, Sir Tliomas Moncreiffe and Mr. W. Herd, to it, we managed to secure a few more specimens. This niiilli, Sir T. jMoucrcifTe has evince iilenfilicd with
J^g r September,
niibner's fig. 86, argentana, CI., and goiiana, L., of Herrich-Sehaffer, vol. iv, p. 177- I have not my copy of Herricli-Schiiffer here, so cannot refer to his description, but our insect may be thus briefly described : — Exp. al. 10"-1'. Front-wings shining satiny-white with a very slight ochreous tinge along the costa and hind margin. Hind-wings very pale greyish-ochreous with some of the veins and hind margin very narrowly fuscous. The vmder-side of the front-wing is almost enth-ely black, except the tip, which is grey. The costa of the under-side of the laind-wing is also blackish. Staudinger places argentana in the genus Sciaphila, Tr., section A, Ablabia, Stph., and gives its distribution as follows : — Germany, Alps, South-East France, Andalusia, and Russia. Like its congener A. pratana, the habits of A. argentana ai'e more those of one of the Crambites than of a Tortrix. — F. Buchanan White, Bannoch : July 26th, 1875.
Is Lareniia ccEsiata donhle-hrooded ? — Mr. Hellins asks (E. M. il., xii, 7) whether Larentia ruficinctata, Gn., and L. ccesiata, Lang., are double-brooded, and this qiiestion seems to have given rise to some discussion — both public and private — amongst entomologists. In the South of England, and in captivity, very possibly both species may be made to produce two or even three broods in a year ; but in Scotland, and in a state of nature, there does not, as far as I am aware, seem to be the slightest ground for supposing that either species has more than a single brood.
The earliest date on which I have seen L. ccesiata, appears, from my note-book, to be June 8th, and from then till the beginning of August it continues to appear from the pupa, wliilst worn specimens may be found even as late as the beginning of September. July, however, is the chief month in which it occurs. The larva may be found up to the 3rd or 4th week in June.
Tlie earliest date on which I have met with L. rujicinctaia is the beginning of July, and from that time till the middle of August it may be found in good con- dition. Considering the high altitude at which it often occm-s, it seems impossible that more tlian one brood in the year can be accompUshed. The lowest locality in which I have seen it is 600 feet above the sea, and in a mountain glen ; and I have met with it in various places at 1300, 1700, 2300, and up to nearly 3000 feet.
As to the food-plants of these species, Ling (CallunaJ seems to be the chief food-plant of ccesiata ; but it may be also found, not uncommonly, feeding in com- pany with the larva; of ruficinctata, upon Saxifraga aizoides. The great food of ruficinctata is undoubtedly tlic leaves of Saxifraga aizoides, though no doubt other Saxifrages would be readily eaten.
One word as to the name " ruficinctata." I am at a loss to know why this recent and inappropriate name has been adopted in Britain, when the much more applicable iiame, fiavicinctata, Hb., has not only the priority, but has been much more givatly used in Britain, (liuficinctaria, Gu., it should be remembered, is a variety of salicataj. — Id.
The food-plant in Britain of the larva of Zelleria saxifragcB. — This larva is figured in the "Natural History of the Tineina" from specimens found in Switzer- land feeding on Saxifraga aizoon. Tliis is not a British plant, so when the Zelleria was found in Britain, it was evident that §ome other Saxifrage must serve as a food-
1875.] 87
plant also. I suspected that iS. aizoides would t>o Ihe plant selected, and my suspicions were verified the other day by finding the larva on this Saxifrage, and also on S. oppos it [folia. The larva oi Larentiaflavicinctata also feeds on these Saxifrages. I first found Zelleria saxifragm in Braemar, and have since seen it in the following districts of Perthslurc, viz. : Athole, Breadalbano, Eannoch, and Lomond. The Inrva is full-fed at the end of Jiuie, and the moth may be found in July and August, resting on, or flying amongst, the flowers of the Saxifrage, or more rarely at rest upon rocks. — Id. : August Ath, 1875.
Notes on Tortrices of the genus Goehylis. — My friend Mr. Barrett, in the February number (Vol. xi, p. 196) of this Magazine, quoting M. Jourdhcuille, says of Francillana, " larva in dried stems of previous year's Mryngium campest7'e." As Mr. Barrett surmised, this information as regards Francillana is incorrect : the larva which feeds in the stems of Eryngium isjlagellana, Dup.
Considerable confusion exists in Grermany with regard to this species and its allies, and I would propose the following correction to Dr. Wocke's catalogue : No. 859. Sanottinana, Tr.,viii,116 (1830); Dup.,ix, 259, 2; H.-S., iv, 182 ; Hein., 77. Saumanniana, Hiibn., Tor., 148 (nee S. V.). 8G0. Feaxcillana, F., E. S., p. 264 ; Don., Nat. Hist., x, t. 351, 1 ; Wood,
1152 ; Wilk., 312 ; flagellana, H.-S., 345, iv, p. 182. 862. Flagellaxa, Dup., ix, 259, 6 ; H.-S., 95, iv, p. 182 ; Heyden, Ste. Z., 1862. Francillana, Hein., p. 80 ; eryngiana, Heyd., St. cut. Z., 1865, p. 100.
Sanguinana, Tr., is a very distinct species, which cannot be confounded with its allies, being distinguished by its larger size, greater breadth of wing, particularly wide fasciso, and the presence of numerous metallic specks, especially on the edges of the fascia?. It is recognizably figured by Hiibner (as Baumanniana) and Duponchel, and, according to Treitschke and Von Heyden, the larva feeds in stems of Fryngium (if not confounded with that oi Jlagellana).
Francillana, Fab., does not ajjpcar to be known on the continent, yet it is well figured by Herrich-Schaffer (fig. 345), but under the name oi Jlagellana. It is indeed very much like Jlagellana, Dup., but it seems to have more elongated and pointed fore-wings ; the two fascia? are generally entire, they are, besides, rather broader than in Jlagellana, and are moreover dilated at, and produced along, the costa and inner margin ; the costa at the base also appears to be more suffused with the dark colour.
Francillana, it appears, feeds in the seeds of caiTot, and probably retires into the stems of tlio plant to hibernate, for it has also been bred from larvsc in the dried stems.
The Francillana of Von Heinemann (p. 80) is eQTivLm\y Jlagellana, Dup., and ho quotes, in error, the English authors. Flagellana, Dup., is unquestionably Von Heyden's eryngiana, and Duponchel's figure is very good. Tliis insect is variable in its mai'kings, it is exccedinglj' like Francillana, but the first fascia (and sometimes the second) is generally very distinctly interrupted at or before the costa, but at other times it is hardly so. The fascia; are naiTower, not, or only very slightly, dilated at the costa and inner margin. Herrich-Schiiffer's fig. 95 is not good, being too pale.
yy [September,
The larvae of flagellana feed in the stems of Eryng'mm campestre, several in the same stem. I have bred several moths from dried stems collected in the spring, the fii'st appearing on the 20111 of June, and the rest about the middle of July. I have still a number of living larvae wliich show no sign of pupating. It is possible that this species feeds in tbe seeds, and M. Ed. Perris sent me, last autumn, a lot of seed heads inhabited by Cochylis larvae, but I did not succeed in rearing them, neither have I noticed any traces of this larva when collecting the dried stems.
Dilucidana is very distinct from eithov Jlaffellana or Francillana, the fasciae arc narrower, straighter, and more parallel, with the edges better defined, and not jagged, as in the other species : the first fascia is distinctly abbreviated near the costa, and the second is entire. This species appears quite unknown on the continent, and Von Heincmann gives it, in error, as synonymous with Francillana.
Dilucidana feeds in the stems of parsnip {Pastinaca sativd) and has also been bred abundantly from stems of Heracleum sphondylium by Mr. Wm. Machin.- — E. L. Eagonot, 27, Rue de Buffon, Paris : August, 1875.
On the habits of Psecadia jlavitihiella. — Professor Zeller has again met with this insect at Bcrgiin, in the Grisons, but has been again unsuccessful in his attempts to discover the larva. With regard to the imago, he has observed that copulation tates place by day, during bright sunshine. The ? sits on some broad leaf, or on a grass stem, whilst the males fly about in searcli of her ; so that by attentively watching the direction in which the males are flying, it is possible to discover the quiescent female. On the 2nd June Professor Zeller saw two males fluttering in the grass, and whilst catching them he obsei'ved a female on a grass stem : directly afterwards came two more males flying towards this female : these were boxed, and more were expected, the female being carefully left untouched on her grass stem. No more males coming up just then, Professor Zeller walked away a little distance : on returning, after an interval of a minute, he found the female already copulated, and another male, which had arrived too late, was about to fly away again, but was intercepted. As the ? had now lost her attracting powers, she and consort were both boxed ; and in this way six males were obtained by means of one female ; and had she been watched more closely, other males might also have been obtained.
ThaUctrum minus occurs in the localities frequented by this insect, but it does not seem to be specially favoured by the imago, and, as already mentioned, the larva has hitherto escaped detection. — H. T. Stainton, Mountsfield, Lewisham : August nth, 1875.
Description of the larva of Pterophorus rhododaciylus. — On the 26tli of May last, I and the Eev. T. W. Daltry, of Madeley, took the larvte of Pterophortis rhododactylus rather freely ; and as I am not aware of any previous description in this country, I have much pleasure in sending one.
Length about half-an-inch, and of tolerable bulk in proportion ; body cylindrical and strongly attenuated towards the extremities ; is considerably retractile, and when at rest has a dumpy appearance ; the head is small, globular, smooth, and slxining, about the same width, or perhaps very slightly narrower, than the second segment ; the segmental divisions are distinctly marked ; Uie skin soft, but has a slightly rough appearance, and is sparingly, though conspicuously, clothed with short hairs.
1875.] • 89
Tlio ground-colour is a ratlier bright grceiiish-yollow, in some specimens yellowish- green ; the head is greyish, -with the checks and mandibles shining black. A very conspicuous purple stripe forms the mcdio-dorsal line, — from the 2nd to Gth segment this stripe appears as composed of round purplish marks joined at the segmental divisions, consequently the stripe is ratlier broad ; on the remaining segments it is much narrower and more uniform, but equally distinct ; the sub-dorsal and spiracidar lines are yellow, but only faintly indicated ; the segmental divisions are also yellow. The ventral surface and prolegs are uniformly dingy green or yellowish, according to the ground of the dorsal surface ; legs black and shining.
The larvae were found feeding on wild rose, beneath the leaf overlapping the rosebud, eating into the unexpanded bud from the side ; others, however, were found feeding in similar positions at the tips of the young shoots. When full-grown those that have been feeding on the buds afSs themselves to the side of the leaf close by the bud, and draw the leaf and the bud together by means of a few silken threads ; the others draw together in a similar way several leaves at the end of the young shoot.
The pupa is about' three-eighths to half-an-inch in length ; pale green, — the wing-cases whitish, — the cye-antcnna-and leg-cases, also the edging of the wing-eases, smoky-black.
On a subsequent visit to the locality (near Rochester) in the middle of July, I found a few of the pupae, from which, in a few days, I reared some beautiful images of this lovely species. The moth first appears at the beginning of July, and continues to emerge throughout the month. — G-eo. T. Poreitt, Huddersfield : August Zrd, 1875.
The cycles of Entomology. — The late Mr. J. F. Stephens had a theory that Entomology, in England at least, ran in cycles ; that is, that for periods of time attention was more devoted to one order of insects than to another. Of this, no one was better qualified than he to judge ; for, being one of the few English Entomo- logists that possessed a collection of all the orders, which he liberally opened on one evening in every week to visitors, he was in a position to see how the current of collecting ran from time to time. He said, that, during a long course of years, the number of Coleopterists and Lepidopterists preponderated by tunis ; that at intervals, Hyraenopterists and Diptcrists appeared, and but rarely a collector of any other order. Since these pleasant and instructive meetings ceased, there have been no private general collections accessible to students, there has been no similar personal guage of the number of collectors or students of the several orders, and we have had to rely for such information upon the record of "The Entomologists' Annual." Judging by this, Coleopterists and Lepidopterists, for some years, ran almost pari passu; now, the ardour of both seems to have abated, the "Annual" itself has ceased to exist, in a great measure, for want of additions to record ; and if the collecting of butterflies and beetles still goes on in Britain, new species are rarely found. It may be there are not many more to be discovered that are new to the country or to science, and considering the number that have been added during the last twenty years, the unknown quantity is not likely to be very great.
But with respect to other orders, considering the few collectors thereof that
90 [September,
have CTcr existed in Britain, and the usnally desultory mctliods of collecting used, I cannot but think there is a good deal of work that should be done by the present generation. British Hijmenoptera, Diptera, and Hemiptera, at least, want looking for, and our knowledge of species put more on the level of the continent. I wish I could see some young collectors coming into the field who would turn their attention to one or other of the neglected orders, which are interesting, not only on account of tlio number of species, but also the wonders of their oeconomy. Abroad, a renewed attention is being devoted to Hemiptera, which is evinced by the publication of lists and descriptive works in Italy, France, Sweden, Denmai'k, and Finland. In Britain, at present, it is not so much the amount of material that is wanting, as the number of workers, both operative and scientific. Doubtless it is best when the out-door and in-door qualifications are combined in one individual, but often, by force of circumstances, it is not possible to get them thus united ; and, besides, some men are naturally hunters pure and simple (or otherwise), and others take only to books and the lamp. I confess that it seems to me, without some such extension of Entomology is developed in Britain, the science, in the next generation, as far as our native insects are concerned, is likely to be in a very low condition ; that even now the number of native workers does not fulfil the promise of former years ; and tliat the cycle will be deficient in quantity, as well as quality, of added knowledge of our Insect Fauna. — J. W. Doxjglas, Lee : 31*^ May, 1875.
s
The Nattteamst : Journal of the West Riding Consolidated Naturalists' Society. New Series. Edited by Chas. P. Hobkiek and Gr. T. Porkitt, F.L.S. No. 1, August, 1875. Bvo., pp. 1—16. Huddersfield : E. Brown.
The numerous local Yorkshire Natural History Societies and Field Clubs have made several efforts to sustain a Journal, but hitherto with no persistent success. Let us hope this praiseworthy endeavour at resuscitation may meet with better sujiport. It is a pity some other title had not been invented, if only for the very obvious reason of avoiding confusion in references. As a proof of the wide-spread interest in different branches of Natural History in this thickly populated district, it may be noted that the number before us contains reports of recent meetings of eight local societies ; and there are several interesting papers on special subjects. The success, or otherwise, of the journal, depends mainly upon the manner in which the ' team ' can be induced to pull well together, and thex'cfore upon the leadership of the editors.
Field and Forest : devoted to general Natural History ; Bulletin of the Potomac-side Naturalists' Club. C. R. Dodge, Editdr. Parts 1 and 2 (June and July, 1875). Washington: The Columbia Press.
We regard it as a hopeful sign that our Ameincan neighbours are not only establishing Field Clubs, but beginning so far to feel their feet that they venture upon journalism. The salutatory introduction tells us that this particulur Club is nearly twenty years old ; and it makes a modest debut as apubhsliing body by a well- prinlcd monthly number of only eight pages. We trust it has taken for itself, and will act upon, the proverb : — " Ce n'est que le premier pas qui coute."
1875, 91
ON CERTAIN BEITISH IIEMIPTERA-ROMOPTERA.
BY JOHN SCOTT. fcontuined from page 25.J
Genus THAMXOTETTIX. Thamnotettix nigeicoenis, J. SaLlberg.
Orange-yellow or slightly greenish.
Crown with four black spots placed as follows : — two, large, near the anterior margin of the eyes of somewhat irregular shape, and two on the anterior margin, close together, continued on to the frons, and when viewed from in front appearing of a somewhat triangular form. Face with a more or less distinct short longitudinal streak on each side, extending from about in a line with the base of the antennoe to the base of the lorae ; interior margin of the gena3 and lorse narrowly black. AntenncD : 1st joint yellow, 2nd black, apex narrowly yellow ; setc'e black, base brown.
Thorax — pronotum yellow or somewhat greenish, with or without indications of four longitudinal black lines. Scutellum black or yellow, in the former case with three yellow V-shapcd characters placed — one at each basal angle and the other round the apical margin, or in the latter with a triangular black spot near eaeh basal angle. Elytra black, with the anterior margin and nerves, as far as the apical areas, orange-yellow or somewhat greenish (in the ? these characters are not so strongly defined); apical areas and nerves deep fuscous-black. Sternum black, shining, exterior margin of the pro and inesonotum yellow. Lerjs somewhat umber coloured or bright yellow. Coxce black, apex dingy yellow. Fulcra yellow. TJiiglis : 2nd and 3rd pairs with a short narrow line down the middle of the inside, at the apex. Tihics: outer margin narrowly black ; 3rd pair, exterior margin spotted with black ; spines brownish-yellow ; down the inside a broad black streak ; spines on the inner margin finer and paler than those exteriorly. Tarsi umber coloured or yellow, apex of the joints narrowly, and elates fuscous-black.
Abdomen above and beneath black ; side margins and posterior margins of two or three of the terminal segments narrowly yellow.
Length 2-21 lines.
Very closely allied to T. 'i-notafus, but more elongate, and by the characters on the elytra may at once be distinguished from that species.
I have only seen this species since the publication of the other portion of this genus. It was taken by Dr. Power, at Colton, in Somersetshire, in August.
Note. — On page 24 ante, species 7, for ptmctifrons, Pall., sub- stitute Torncella, Zett.
Lee : Julj/, 1875.
f)2 [September.
ON CERTAIN BRITISH HEMIPTERA-HOMOPTERA. BY JOHK SCOTT.
Description of a neio genus and sjjeeies of the fcnnily DELPnAcrDj;. Genus EUEYBREGMA. ^. Developed form.
Head — crown almost twice as broad as the lengtli measured down tlie centre ; central keels obsolete ; base with two deepish fovea; with the usual M-shaped marginal keels, and in the apex of which exteriorly, is a third small fovea, anterior margin slightly convex, but a little way in front of the eyes. Face with rudimentary indications of two keels, approximating and uniting at the apex ; side margins slightly concave between the eyes. Antennce short, reaching to or a little beyond the base of the clypeus ; 1st joint longer than thick, somewhat cylindrical, and shorter than the slightly clavate 2nd joint.
Thorax — pronotmn : side keels near to the eyes, curving round parallel with their posterior margin and not reaching the lateral mar- gin. Scutellum with a central and two side keels, the former not reaching the apex, the latter almost parallel wuth the former, joining the sides at the base of the triangle. Legs — tihice : spur at the apex of the Si'd pair triangular, flat ; lower margin convex, finely serrate. Tarsi : 3rd pair, 1st joint long, equal in length to the other two.
This genus stands near to that of Eurysa, Eieb., but llie greater breadth of the head, difference in the side margins of the face between the eyes (in Eurysa these are convex), and form of the genitalia, at once shew their distinctness.
Species Etjetbeeoma niorolixeata.
Head fuscous-brown. JPronotiim and scutclhim yellow, each with two black longitudinal lines. Elytra much longer than the abdomen, pale testaceous-white ; nerve adjoining the anterior margin and the nerve adjoining the claval suture broadly margined with brown, be- coming darker as it reaches the transverse nerves, from whence to round the apex it is broadly black.
Sead — croion fuscous-brown ; foTCse black, keel between the two basal ones yellow.
F<ice fuscous-brown, paler towards the apex ; on each side between the latter
and the lower margin of the eyes an oval black patch. AntenncB pale yellow,
sliijhtly dusky. Thorax — ^ronotum pale yellow, lateral margins and a streak down each side of the
centre black, in the middle of the latter a small fovea. Scvfellmn orange-yellow ; . side keels black ; central keel white. Elytra pale testaceous-wliite. Clavus :
1875.] 93
between the suture and the first nerve brownisli, darkest next the nerve. Corium : between the anterior margin and the first nerve almost white, the latter mar- gined with brown, widening and becoming darker as it approaches the transverse nerves, from thence to the apex black ; nerve adjoining the claval suture mar- gined with brown, becoming darker as it approches and extends to the latter from thence to the apex black, where it is iinited to that down the anterior margin. Wings pale, nerves black narrowly margined with pale fuscous. Sternum : sides of the segments black margined with vellow. Zerjs pale fuscous- testaceous. Thighs with a longitudinal black streak dowii the inside.
Abdomen black ; dorsal line and side margins narrowly yellow ; last genital segment black, posterior margin almost perpendicular, near the upper margin on the side a somewhat triangular yellow patch ; opening viewed from behind almost circular ; styles long, aculeate, diverging as they ascend, and almost touching the margin in a line with the tube. ? . Unknown. Length 2^ lines, nearly.
In stature between Del^haxpulchella, Curt., and Lihtiniia sjjeciosa, Boh., to both of which it may be said to bear a rough resemblance. From the former the difference in the shape of the antennae will show that they do not belong to the same genus, and from the latter the broader head, absence of keels, and difference in length of the joints, of the antennje, are sufficiently distinguishing characters.
I took a single <^ example at Fawley, by sweeping, in June of the present year.
Lee : Jidg, 1875.
ON CERTAIN BRITISH EEMIPTERA-HOMOPTERA. BY JOHX SCOTT.
\_Revision of the genus AlHTSANrs, and descriptions of species.']
The insects comprised in this genus form, in part, the second sub- generic division out of four into which Eurmcister, in his " Genera Inrtcctorum," vol. i, separated the species representing the genus Iiissus, Germar. For his type he took the Cicada argentata, Fab. (a species not known to be found in Britain), and all subsequent authors have adopted his type, and raised the group to its present from its somewhat lower state. The drawings in Burmeister s Gen. Ins. are probably unequalled for correct outline and for details of the various parts of the creatures. Since this is so, it seems to me very remarka- ble that out of the nine species he emimerates four of these relate to the genus Acocephalus, Germ., which had been previously figured in
94 [September,
the same work, aiul where the genitalia (which he himself pointa to as a leading generic character), as well as the shape of the head, ought to have indicated their true position.
In 1858, Kirschbaum published his " Athysanus-Arten," con- sisting of eighteen species, eleven of which he described as new ; but two of these, diminutus and sulphureus, being only (according to Fieber) respectively interstitialis, Germ., and impictlfrons, Boh., the number is reduced to sixteen. Still further, three other species are referable to as many other genera, viz., hrevis to Gonlagnathus, Fieb., ventralis to GraphocrcBrus, Thoms., and stylatus to Doratura, J. Sahib. ; so that in all there remain but thirteen representatives of the genus. This condition of matters remained pretty much in the same state until 1868, when Kirschbaum's " Cicadinen der Gregend von Wiesbaden u. Frankfurt " appeared, in which are recorded no fewer than thirty-nine species. Five of these I have already referred to other genera, and of the remainder nineteen figure as his own. Here Fieber again steps in and extracts eleven others, for the following reasons, viz., lacteiner- vis which he consigns to his genus Allygus ; proceps, MJinhii, convexus, sejungendus, SchencJcii, incisus, palUdior, and anomalus, species resting for the most part on the authority of single specimens (some of one sex and some of the other) in the author's collection, and which he refused Fieber a sight of after various applications (see Yerh. z.-b. Wien, pp. 27 — 33 [1872]) ; two others, confusus and validinervis, which Fieber knew, he refers to sordidus and grisescens, Zett. As- suming this to be the true state of things, then Kirschbaum has really added eight good species to the genus. But there still remain three other species to be dealt with before the list is thoroughly purged ; these are Imeatus and PregssJeri both belonging to the genus Thaiimo- tettix, Scott (Fieb.), and homophyJa to that of Doratura, J. Sahib. After all this disseveratiou, there are twenty species left, of which we have ten, and, in addition, five others unknown to Kirschbaum. Many of the species are only met with in the brachypterous state, and some of them in great abundance.
To facilitate the recognition of the species, I have divided them into three apparently natural sections, as follows :
Section A. — Distance between the inner margin of the eyes at the base of the head not t .vice as great as the length down the centre ; anterior margin very slightly rounded, angle somewhat acute.
Section B. — Distance between the inner margin of the eyes at the base of the head twice as great as the length down the centre.
1875.] 95
Section C. — Diytancc between the inner iiinrc;in of tlic cyet^ at the base of the head more than twice ilie lengtli down the centre ; anterior margin sub-rotundate.
Section A.
Croion pale ochrcous, Tvitliout markings. Face without transverse strealis ; round
the upper margin a somewhat broken black line or streak. J£lytra about as
long as the abdomen, ashy-grey, farinose ; claval suture nari'owly pale fuseous.
Length, 2 — 2? lines 1. canescens, Doug. & Seott.
A full description of this insect will be found in the Ent. Mo. Mag., vol. ix, 210 (1873). We have no other species with which it can be confounded.
Crown testaceous, inclined to yellowish, with an almost obsolete arcuate brown streak before the anterior margin, and another transverse, sliort, straight one, also almost obsolete, in a line with the anterior margin of the eyes. Face yellowish, with about nine finely undulating, transverse, black streaks on each side. Flytra testaceous-yellow, or with a greenish tinge, covering little more than half of the abdomen ; nerves, especially posteriorly, very finely but irregularly margined with black ; apical areas more or less black
Abdomen : above yellowish, more or less black upon the sides ; side margins narrowly yellow ; posterior margin of the last three segments narrowly black, and across the middle of each an in-egular row of minute black spots. Length, 1\ — If Hnes 2. depressus, n. sjy.
A flatter and broader insect than A. hrevij^ennis, Kirschb., to Avhich it is very cdosely related ; but it differs from that species in having the nerves of the elytra margined with black, also the apical areas of the same colour.
The only specimens I have seen were taken by the Eev. T. A. Marshall at Braemar ; the date is not given.
Croion yellowish or testaceous, with an arcuate brown streak before the anterior mar- gin, and a transverse, short, straight one of the same colour in a line with the anterior margins of the eyes. Face black, with a narrow yellow central line, and about seven transverse ones of the same colour on each side, the alternate spaces about equal in width. Flytra dusky-testaceous or pitcliy-brown, longer than the abdomen, with pale nerves ; the areas more or less pitehy-brown.
C OBISESCENS, Zett. Length, IJ — 2 lines... 3. } (coguatus, Doug, k Seott. (. validi/iervis, Kirschb. $ .)
Somewhat after the form of A. stordUhis or j^Iclei us ; but the cha- racters on the head are different from either of those species.
This species is fully described in Ent. Mo. Mag., vol. i.v, 211 (1873), and although T have only seen the examples in the collections
J)G [September, 1875.
of Mr. Douglas and my own, yet it is not impossible that it may be found mixed up witL. the two species named above in the cabinets of other collectors.
Crown testaceous, with an arcuate black streak at the anterior margin, and a fre- quently interrupted transverse streak of the same colour in a line with the anterior margin of the eyes ; frequently these characters are almost obsolete. Face black, with 7 — 8 fine transverse, curved, yellowish lines on each side, the two next the apex generally appearing as spots ; down the centre a nan-ow yellow line, frequently wanting. Clypeus black, with a broadish yellow margin. LorfB yellow, more or less broadly margined with black. Elytra as long as, or slightly shorter than, the abdomen, testaceous. Clavus : on one or both sides narrowly margined with brown, and frequently broken up into spots. Corium : next the claval suture with a brown streak ; all the areas more or less brown ; apical areas generally brown ; sometimes the entire disc is pitchy-brown, leaving the nerves here and there narrowly testaceous. Thighs : 1st pair yellow, with a broad black ring at the base, and another narrow one before the apex ; these are very often represented by two spots on the lower margin, or are entirely absent. Length, 1^ — If lines 4. soedidtjs, Zett. (cow/«sm5, Kirschb.).
The characters on the head are somewhat like those of A. grisescens, but their position is different, whilst those on the elytra more resemble A. ohsolcfus, a species much larger than the one just described.
JEltftra testaceous ; nerves on both sides, and frequently the areas, more or less irror- ated with fuscous-black. Clavus : apex narrowly, and apex of the nerves white.
Crown with a very narrow black central line extending from the base to about in a line with the anterior margin of the eyes ; near the base, and nearer to the eyes than the centre, a small black spot ; in front two others slightly larger and close together ; round the half of the ocelli next the eyes is a broad black border to which is joined an elongate black patch running somewhat obliquely towards the centre of the basal margin. Face^frons with a lunate black patch on either side, below which are seven or eight transverse black streaks. Thighs : first and second pairs with the apex narrowly and two rings, the basal one broadest,
black 5. lEBOBATUS, w. sp.
Extremely like A. ohscurellus, and probabh^ may be mixed up "n"ith this species in collections, but the narrower head and characters on it, and the elytra, will lead to its identity.
Section B.
Distance between the inner margin of the eyes at the base twice as
great as the length down the centre.
a. Anterior margin distinctly rounded ; angle somewhat obtuse.
g. Crown black, with a narrow yellow arcuate hne on the anterior margin, slightly widest in the middle, and extending from eye to eye j basal margin with two
October, 1S75.} 97
email jcUow spots placed nearer to the eyes than the middle. Ocelli bright red. Face black, with two or three short, obscure, yellowish, transverse streaks on the frons. Pronotiim black, finely wrinkled transversely, except a small portion next the anterior margin, which is slightly raised above the other portion of the disc ; behind each eye a somewhat indistinct yellow spot. Scidellum black, base with a small dusky-yellow spot on each side of the centre ; aides, from in a line with the transverse channel to the apex, narrowly yellow, forming a distinct ^^-shaped character. JElytra pitchy-black, longer than the abdomen. Clavus : here and there between the nerves finely reticulated transversely with yellowish. Corinm : between the claval suture and the adjoining nerve finely reticulated transversely with yellowish ; adjoining ante-apical areas down the middle testa- ceous-white ; the pitchy-black portion thickly and minutely dotted with testaceous- white. Legs black. Thighs : 1st and 3rd pairs at the apex sordid yellow. TibicB : ]st pair sordid yellow, anterior margin black ; 3rd black, anterior margin sordid yellow spotted with black, in which the long brownish-yellow spines ai'e set.
? . Crown testaceous-yellow, with a black sjjot on each side of the middle near the anterior margin ; basal half black ; posterior margin narrowly, and four spots attached, testaceous-yellow. Face black, with seven or eight short, fine, trans- verse yellowish streaks. Elytra paler than in the other sex, and the reticulation more distinct. The other characters nearly as in the J . Length, <? , 2, ? , 25 lines.
G. piCEUS, n. sp.
Its black appearance will at once lead to its recognition.
I have only seen two specimens ((j^ & $ ), the latter in the col- lection of Mr. Douglas, sent to liim by the late Mr. T. J. Bold ; the former in my own collection, taken by Mr. T. AVilkiiison near Scar- borongh some years ago. The insect has been submitted to M. Lethierry and Mr. J. Sahlberg, and was returned as unknown to them.
Crown pale testaceous, with a triangular black spot in front before the anterior mar- gin, sometimes continued in a linear form as far as the ocelli ; in the middle two black spots about equidistant from each eye and each other ; near the base and adjoining each eye a small black spot, sometimes obGolete. Face pale or some- what grcj-ish-teslaceous, with about nine transverse, curved, black streaks, frequently united by a black border interiorly, and leaving a fine, palo, central line. Clypeus and lorce pale, tlie former with a more or less distinct small black or brown spot near the apex. Elytra as long as the abdomen, pale testaceous ; claval suture narrowly brown ; inner margin of all the nerves finely reticulated with brown, the reticidation more prominent in some individuals than in others, and not unfrequcntly altogether wanting. Thighs : 1st pair with a short black dash on the inside at the base, and two of the same colour on the lower margin. Length, 2 — 2 J lines 7. OBSOLETUS, Kirsehb.
The characters on the el3'tra are somewhat similar to those of A. sonlidus ; but the above insect is always much paler and larger than that species, and, iudepcudently of this, the markings on the head are entirely diifcrent.
98 [October,
Croion yellowish, with eight black spots, placed six on the anterior margin, the largest next the eyes and somewhat square, the smallest somewhat rounded next the centre ; at the base a brownish spot, enclosed by a narrow black border. Face yellowish, with about eight transverse black streaks on each side, and a pale brownish curved one on the upper margin. Clypeus : next the apex with a black spot : lorce margined with black. In many examples the whole of the characters on the head are almost obsolete. Elytra longer than the abdomen, very pale testaceous ; nerves on both sides and some of the areas more or less thickly, finely and irregularly powdered with piceous ; on the disc five pale milky-white spots placed one in a line with the apex of the scutellum between the claval suture and central nerve, another at the apex of that nerve, and one at the base and apex of the ante-apical area immediately below the basal area. Jrj?!^s entirely pale. Length, If lines 8. plebbius, Fall.
This species may easily be separated from A. ohscurellus, to wtich it is allied, by the milk-white spots on the elytra (most visible when the insect is in repose), the difference in the characters on the head, and the pale wings.
Crown black, with a yellow T-shaped character in front, in the upper part of which and just before the anterior margin are four black spots, frequently united ; on each side at the base a narrow, semi-oval, narrow streak extending between the central line and the inner margin of the eye. Face black, with from six to eight fine yellow transverse lines on each side. Clypeus black, very narrowly margined with yellow : lorm black, with a more or less large yellow spot in the middle. Elytra longer than the abdomen, yellowish or yellowish-testaceous, tliiekly and very finely spotted with dark fuscous or black, somewhat disposed in longitudinal rows ; sometimes the spots ai'C united at irregular intervals, varying in different individuals, and forming short lines, giving to the disc a somewhat reticulated appearance. Wings dark fuscous at the base and apex. Thighs : 1st pair black, base, a narrow ring before the apex, and the latter itself yellow.
Length, 1^ — 2 lines 9. gbscueellus, Kirschb.
In repose, this insect has always a dusky appearance, which varies much in intensity. The absence of the milk-white spots ou the elytra is sufficient to distinguish it from A. plebeius.
This is the insect which has been doing duty in the collections of this country under the name of Strong ylocephalus ag rest is, Eall.
b. Anterior margin distinctly rounded ; angle somewhat acute.
Crown yellowish-white, with a narrow, curved, black streak on each side of the centre before the anterior margin ; across the middle a narrow, elongate, lozenge- shaped, pale brown patch, its extremities joined to two short longitudinal lines, •which reach the base and enclose between them two yellowish-white spots. Face black, with about six short, slightly curved, transverse, yellow streaks on each side, and a narrow yellow central line terminating in a spot of the same colour at the apex. Clypeus black, with a yellow spot oia each side at the base ; some-
1875.] 99
times the face is yellowish, with six or soren short slightly curved black strenks. Elytra much longer than the abdomen, yellow. Clavtts with a narrow brown line down the inner margin of the dorsal nerve, interrupted by the white apices, of the nerves. Corium : anterior marginal nerve somewhat brownish-yellow ; apices of the ante-apical areas frequently brown ; nerves slightly paler than the disc. Thighs : 1st pair yellow, more or less black at the base, and with a narrow black ring before the apex, sometimes only represented by a spot on the inside. Length, 2^ lines 10. siJBFUSCtTLUS, Fall.
In general appearance, tins insect bears a strong resemblance to tlu' following one, from which it may at once be distinguished by the absence of the black spots in the clavus and corium.
On the continent, two other species belonging to this group occur, viz., A. eryth'ostictus, Fieb., and A. simplex, H.-Sch., and I think it very probable that they may be met with in this country. Both have pale heads as in A. dilutior, and, when in repose, they much resemble the ? of A. suhfusculus in the elytra.
Crown yellowish-white, with a somewhat triangular pale brownish spot in the middle on each side of the centre. Face testaceous-yellow, with about seven short, curved, transverse pale brown lines on each side, slightly broader than the pale spaces : lorm at the base with a short narrow brown margin. Elytra much longer than the abdomen, yellowish-testaceous. Clavus with two short longitu- dinal black streaks, one adjoining the claval suture and about in a line with the apex of the scutellum, the other situated a little higher up ; apices of the nerves white ; apex narrowly piceous. Corium with two short longitudinal black streaks, placed one near the apex of the basal area, and the other near the base of the ante-apical area immediately below it. Thighs : 1st pair with a narrow black streak down the inside, in some cases obsolete. Length, 2^ lines.
11. DILUTIOE, Kirschb. Qlebilis, Fiob.).
The pale head and black streaks on the elytra of this species will at once serve to separate it from tlie foregoing.
Crown pale testaceous, without markings. Face pale testaceous, the upper portion with sometimes tliree or four short transverse brownish streaks. Elytra much longer than the abdomen, pale yellowish-green ; apex slightly brownish ; nerves paler than the disc. Thighs: Ist pair yellow. Length, 2i — 3 lines.
12. PKASiNUS, Fall.
According to Ficber, this is A. Zelleri, Kirschb., and A. 2>')'asinus, Kirschb., is A. simplex, ll.-Schf.
Crown black, with a yellow anchoriform cliaractor in fi'ont, and two short transverse yellow streaks in a line with the anterior margin of the eyes, and two others near the base ; basal margin narrowly, inner margin of the eyes and a spot near the latter, yellow. Face black, with seven or eight short, slightly curved, trans- verse yellow lines ; down the centre a fine yellow line, terminating at the apex
100 [Octo1)er.
in a spot of tho same colour. Pronotum black, finely wrinkled transversely, and with numerous short, irregular, testaceous, transverse streaks. Ulytra longer than the abdomen, greyish or pale yellowish-grey ; all the nerves more or less broadly margined with black on both sides, giving to some of the areas an ocellated appearance ; base of the ante-apical area immediately below the basal one with a conspicuous black spot, and frequently another lower down where the area contracts ; tho two dorsal apical areas black. Thighs : 1st pair black, with a yellowish spot or band just beyond the middle. Length, Ij line.
13. STRiATULtrs, Fall.
From the pattern on tlie elytra, one is reminded o£ that on several of the DeUocepJtali, but the different form of the head at once removes it from that group. After the examination of several specimens, and comparing them with Thamnotettix corniculus, Marshall, described on page 23, ante, I am convinced that they belong to the same species, and Marshall's name must sink.
(To he continuedj.
BEITISH if^iJiJPr^JS^.— ADDITIONS AND CORRECTIONS. BY J. W. DOUGLAS AXD JOHX SCOTT.
Section CAPSINA. Family PILOPROBIDu^. Genus PlLOPHORUS, Hahn.* (Camaronotus, Fieb., Doug, and Scott). Species 1. — Pilophoetts clayatus. Oimex clarafus, Lin., S. IS"., 729, 97 ; Phytocoris clavatus, Burm., Handb., ii, 266, 1 ; Capsus clavatus, Kirschb., Caps., 72, 80, and 137 ; Flor, Hhyn. LivL, i, 569, 59 ; Camaronotus clavatus, Fieb., Eur. Hem., 313, 2.
Dark brown with a dull velvety appearance, and clothed with short appressed golden-yellow hairs. Clavus with one, corium with two, transverse silver-white bands, that on the clavus a little above the level of the second on the corium.
Bead black, with a somewhat bronzy appearance. Antenn cb hrov^^ ; apical third of the 2nd joint black ; 3rd black, base narrowly white or pale orange-white ; 4th black, base very narrowly whitish.
Thorax — pronotum and scutellum black, with a somewhat bronzy appearance ; the sides of the latter with a dull silvery margin. Elytra dark brown, with a dull velvety appearance, and clothed with short, appressed, golden-yellow hairs.
*" All the continental authors ha^-ing ajifrced to restoie the Uahnian name to this genus, it being the older one, we have also adopted the same course.
1870] 101
Coriiim with two narrow silvory-wliito biiiuls terminating at the olavul suture, and placed, one in a line with the apex of the scutellum, the other, slightly areuate, a little above the apex of tlie clavus. Clavus pitchy-brown, with a dull velvety appearance, with a transverse silvery-white band a little above the lower of the two on the corium ; cuneiis, a little below the base, with a fringe of silvery-white hairs. Membrane velvety-brown, with a broad iridescent margin ; lesser cell, and a streak at the apex of the cuneus, white. Pro.sternum, on the sides, pitchy-black ; mexo.tternum : posterior margin silvery-white, iei/.s brown ; cox(B and fulcra pale yellowish-white ; thir/ks brown, clearer and brighter, curved afc the base and apex ; tibitv smoky-reddish-brown ; tarsi brown ; apex of the 3rd joint broadly black. Abdomen, underneath, pitchy-brown, basal segments more or less broadly silvery- white, the colour slanting towards the middle and forming a lunate band.
Length, 11 line. A trifle larger than P. cinnamopterus, and without its red colour. It i3 more nearly allied to P. perplexus, the following new species, but differs from both by the position of the silvery band on the clavus, and the absence of the white spot on the cuneus.
A few specimens were taken by us on sallows in a marshy place at Lee, in August.
Camaronotus clavatus, Brit. Hem., i, 3G(), 2. The description (ex- clusive of the synonymy) and the figui-e must be referred to Pilophorus perplexus. An amended description of this new species follows.
Species 2. — Pilophoeus peeplexus.
Camaronotus clavatus, Doug, and Scott, Brit. Hem., i, 3G0, 2 {ncc Lin.). Olive-brown with a dull velvety appearance. Scutellum : sides at the base and apex silvery-white. Elytra with two transverse silver- white liands, the upper one terminating at the claval suture, the lower one slightly angular, and continued across the clavus. Cuneus with a silvery-white spot at the inner basal angle.
iZead black. Face: side-lobes more or less clear brown. Aniennoi reddish-brown or brown ; 2nd joint broadly shaded off into piceous or black at the apex ; 3rd pale reddish, apical half darker j 4th brown, basal thii-d or half white or pale yellowish-white.
Thorax — -pronotum black, dull, with a deep gi-een appearance in certain lights, very finely wrinkled transversely. Sculellum black, with a deep green appearance in certain lights ; sides near the base with an elongate silvery-white spot ; apex silvery-white, extreme apex black. Elytra olive-brown, with a dull velvety appearance, clothed with short, apprcssed, piilisli-yellow hairs. Clavus more or loss deep pitchy-brown, with a dull velvety appearance, apex from below the band somewhat shining and finely wrinkled transversely. Corium more or less deep olive-brown, the entire pai-t below the lower band, lying between the anterior margin and the nerve, piceous, somewhat shining ; in a line with the
2Q2 [October,
apex of the clavus ie a silvery-white band terminating at the claval suture, and at about one-tliird the distance from the apex is another similar one, slightly angulato (in cinnamopterus it is slightly convex), continued across the clavus. Membi-ane brown, velvety, with a broad iridescent margin along the margin of the cuneus narrowly white. Prosternum black ; posterior margin of the meso- sternum, on the sides, silvery- white. Legs brown ; coxce and fulcra white or pale yellowish-white ; thighs brown ; 3rd pair darkest ; base and lower margin at the apex frequently reddish-brown ; tibi(B ferruginous ; tarsi white or pale yellowish-white ; 3rd joint dark brown. Abdomen, underneath, black, with a broad silvery-white band extending from the 2nd segment to the posterior margin of the 6th, slanting inwardly in the direction of the apex. Length, 1| line.
In colour and size, this species mostly resembles P. cJavafus, but differs from it in tlie following characters : — the more contracted anterior margin of the elytra, the continuous nearly straight lower silvery band on the same, and a simple silvery spot at the inner basal angle of the cuneus, as in P. cinnamopterus, from which species it may also be distinguished by the different colouring of the antennae, elytra, and tarsi.
With us, this is the commonest of the three British species. It occurs in July and August, on oak trees in a hawthorn hedge, as well as in the hedge itself, in the vicinity of the nests of Formica rufa, in company with which insect we believe it dwells.
Camaronotus ciniiamoptvrus, Fieb., Doug, and Scott, Brit. Hem., i, 359, 1, is not, as stated by Renter in his " Revisio critica Capsiuarum," part ii, 8.5, 1, tlie Cimex hlfasciaius, Fab., Mantiss., ii, 305, 264. Stal confirms Fieber's view, and refers the insect to the genus Closlerotoimis of this author.
Lee : September, 1875.
ON THE LAEVA, &c., OF CATACLYSTA LEMNALIS. BY WILLIAM BUCKLEB.
On TsTovembcr 10th, 1874, Mr. "W. C. Boyd kindly sent me six young larv» of this species in their cases, and I found no great difficulty in keeping them in thriving condition by placing them in a vessel of water with a sup[)ly of Lemna minor floating on the top. It gave me much interest and pleasure to watch them from time to time, and I have set down my observations as it occurred to me to note them.
AVhen they first arrived, these larvso were often protruding from their cases half or more of their bodies, both on the surface of the water and also below it, while appai-ently examining the surrounding
1875.1 103
weed ; often they would ascend ii little way on the side of the glass vessel and fix themselves there with only their liead downwards and projecting into the water, while the other end of their casea above it on the glass would have a bright silvery air bubble.
Sometimes they would descend beneath the surface of the water, down the side of the glass, for an inch or two, and even more ; and then, while crawling, they often protruded as many as eight segments, showing a line of silvery sparkles along each side in the spiracular region, the other parts of the body appearing blackish.
On the 16th of the month, having noticed that one had remained at the very bottom of the water, hidden entirely in its case, for some time, I removed it to another vessel of water, the better to observe its behaviour : at first it floated on the surface, but after a few minutes came out of the case as far as the fifth segment, and, by crawling, soon managed to arrive at the side of the glass, along which it continued to crawl at the level margin of the water, occasionally turning itself round within its case, and coming partly out at the other end, thus proving the case to be open at both ends, a fact which was not suggested by its appearance. The external figure of the case was of an irregular oval form, nearly half-an-inch in length, and varying in width from two to three lines, the leaves of which it was formed overlapping each other, but in an irregular manner, and so contrived that a leaf or two should hang down and mask the openings at the ends, when the occupant, as was often the case, remained quiet within : the two ends of the case are not quite alike in their fashioning, and the whole thing, when the larva is not seen, very much resembles an accidental accu- mulation of some of the duckweed, so slight is the eminence which it causes above the general level of the surface.
When the larva reposed just so far within its case as only to show a little of its head, there was the smallest conceivaljle silvery sparkle lurking at the bases of its antennal j)apilUc, and also about the mouth ; but when it was in motion with two-thirds of its body beyond its case, this quicksilver-like aj)pea ranee of air in water was exhibited more extensively along each of its sides as a broad baud, and even the bases of its anterior legs were encircled with radiance, and sparkling with each movement ; this luminous appearance changed its position with tliat of the larva, according to the .angle of light in which it was viewed ; sometimes, behind the second segment, the back appeared completely silvered over, and sometimes the belly ; and, at other times, transverse silverv lines marked the segmental divisions.
101. L October.
After watching it some time, I took it in my hand and stripped off the case o£ duckweed leaf by leaf, leaving the larra naked and perfectly dry ; then placing it in a small dry saucer, I found it much less helpless than I at first thought, for, recovering in a few seconds from the surprise of its novel situation, it began to crawl about and up the side of the saucer ; I then put in a small quantity of water, and placed the larva on it, when it floated without sinking even its feet, and when touched, slid quite helplessly about ; — in fact, I found it now impossible to immerse the larva, for its specific gravity seemed as nothing in comparison with the water.
After figuring the naked larva, I placed it in a glass of water with a little duckweed on the surface, and then it at once began to spin some of the leaves together with its anterior legs, placing and holding them suitably for its purpose ; and still it remained all the while per- fectly dry, its skin being the very perfection of waterproof texture.
In the course of six minutes, it had roughly constructed a new case, and was almost hidden from view, by this time lying on its back and employed seemingly in finishing the interior.
"While out of its case, I found it was three-eighths of an inch long, of slender proportion, thickest in the middle, the anal flap rounded above like a small knob, the colour of the head and second segment black above, and shining, the rest of the body without gloss and of a sooty velvety blackness, but a blacker dorsal line could be distinguished ; a faint olive tint seemed to show through the sooty surface along the spiracular region under a lens, but even that aid did not enable me at this early stage to see the spiracles.
At the approach of winter, all the larvjo ceased to feed on tlie duckweed, and shut themselves up in their cases for hibernation from eai-ly in December to the beginning of March, 1875, when, during the occurrence of a few mild days, they began to move about and protrude their front segments, but soon retired again until the middle of April ; thenceforward they frequently cnme partly out, and appeared to be feeding well, and, by May 5th, their cases were enlarged with additions from the fresh weed.
On the 10th of May, T saw, with some anxiety, a larva out of its case, apparently dead at the bottom of the water ; when taken out for examination, it proved to be still alive, but in hopeless plight, infested with extremely minute, slender, whitish, semi-translucent, parasitic worms, which, on emerging, coiled and wriggled round their dying victim. Three other larvic succumbed to th^se parasites soon-afterwards.
1875.] 105
On turning over one of the two remaining cases on May 12tli, I •was surprised to see the larva walk immediately out of it as though in alarm, and after crawling over the duckw^eed on the surface of the water, partly ascend the side of the glass ; it seemed to be full-grown, so I placed it in a shallow saucer of water, and secured a couple of figures and the following description.
Length just five-eighths of an inch, or a little more when stretched out to the utmost, in which position it appeared nearly uniform in size throught)ut, but its more usual appearance while at rest or crawling "Was to be thickest in the middle of the body, the first five segments tapering towards the head, which is partly retractile into the second segment ; the second segment is longer than the usual proportion, Avhilc the third and fourth are shorter than the others ; the thickest segments are the si^^th to the tenth ; from the latter the figure tapers again to the thirteenth, wliich is the smallest segment, its former knob not present ; the divisions and sub-divisions all deeply defined, the anal tip rounded and but little sloped ; the anterior legs very well developed ; the ventral ones full and fleshy, but with small feet ; the anal pair rather small ; the back, viewed sideways, a little arched, sloping off towards the head, and more to the anal extremity.
Tlie colour of the head is pale olive-brown, darkest at the moutb, and shining ; the very lustrous black plate on the second segment is relieved behind by a pale margin of olive-greenish ; from thence the whole surface of the body is of a deep sooty-olive blackness, soft and velvety, with the slight exception of the anal tip being a little browner than the rest, and rather less velvety ; a black dorsal stripe can just be discerned ; the anterior legs pale olive ; the puffed spiracular region is a little puckered, and the small circular blackish spiracles i-aised in the least degree above the surrounding surface, and slightly glistening; a few fine soft haii's from the usual situations just visible.
As before, this larva, when supplied with a little duckweed, soon fdiiucd for itself a new ease ; on examining the case of the other survivor, I found it had already become a pupa; I put them in tlio same vessel together, and, on May 15th, I found the larva was joining its case to that which contained the pupa, thus making together a much bigger o1)ject floating on the water ; at intervals more we('d was added by the larva until the ITtli, Avhen it became quiescent, and then the whole mass presented an oval form of about the bulk of a house- sparrow's egg.
Not expecting an imago qxiite so early, T left the water uncovered
lOG [October,
until the 26th of May, wheu I noticed a diminution in size of the caae, and knew I had lost the first moth ; but I secured the second moth, a fine female specimen which appeared on June the 5th.
On opening the deserted remains of the cases, I found tliat of the first moth fallen to decay, while the one just vacated was oval within, five-eighths of an inch in length, thickly and smoothly lined with whitish silk ; the old blackish cast skin of the larva, and the broken pupa skin, remaining in it ; this pupa skin was a little more than three-eighths of an inch in length, with a large development of the wing-, antenna-, and leg-cases, the latter projecting a little free from the body, which was smooth and shining, the head and thorax rounded off, the abdominal tip rather blunt, and but little produced beyond the last ring, and having on each side a small angular projection ; the circular flat button-like spiracles very slightly raised above the surface : the colour was a warm brown, and shining.
Emsworth : August IQth, 1875.
ipiSCEIPTION OF A NEW SPECIES OF MYRINA FROM W. AFRICA. BY W. C. HEWITSOJf, F.L.S.
A small collection of butterflies brought from tlie Cameroons and very liberally intrusted to my care by Mr. G. B. Medley, though not rich in rare things, contains a very beautiful new species of Myrina, which I characterize as follows : —
Mteina Gexttba, sp. n.
TTpfer-side : ultramarine blue. Anterior wing with the costal and outer margins, and an unusually large central discal spot, dark brown. Posterior wing with one tail ; the costal margin brown, the outer margin dentated, black, narrow, the fringe white.
Under-side : white, with the outer margins broadly brown, traversed inwardly, where it joins the white by a rufous-brown baud bordered on both sides with dark brown. Posterior wing with a black spot at the base of the tail, bordered broadly with orange ; the lobe black crowned with blue, a black spot near it irrorated with blue ; two lunu- lar brown spots towards the apex bordered with white, the outer margin black bordered inwardly with white.
Exp. Iv/ij inch. Ilab. Cameroons, West Africa.
Oatlande, Wcybridge :
September, 1875. •
-875.] 107
Note on Eros mintttus. — Having a. ft'W hours' leisure in the intervals of llic business of the Britisli Association, Mr. IJatcs, ilr. McLachlan, and I were duly escorted by a friendly band of Bristolian experts to Leigh Woods, their happy hunting ground, where, from the luxuriant growth of many kinds of trees, the age of most of the timber, and the evident traces of insect life, it is clear that collecting in the early summer could not fail to be very profitable. The time of year, however, being at the time of our visit unpropitious, and our opportunity very small, nothing of any consequence was found, except, perhaps, Orchesia undulata, of which erratic skipper I found five or six specimens in fungoid growth under felled oak bark, where Cerylon, Leptusa, &c., of course occurred. In looking for such things, I was some- what surprised to find, on three or four occasions, very fine specimens of AmpMpyra pyramidea, packed in spaces that must ap])areutly have somewhat pinched tliem for room. The only species really worth recording, that fell to our lot, was Eros minutus — that " little Lycus " whilom found hero by Senor Edwyn Reed of Chile, whose secret appears to have crossed the seas with him, and of which sporadic examples have occurred in various parts of the south, chiefly by sweeping under fir trees. Of this, we " happened on " a brood, a straggler of which caught the attention of my Neuropterous colleague, who, not forgetful of old Eannoch experiences with the larger species, immediately called my attention to it. The insect was living under practically the same conditions as its Scotch ally, in the very rotten and almost powdery remains of a large felled stump, on which Scaphidium, not often seen by cockneys, alternately raced and shammed death. This stump was so old, that no fibre or bark remained to guess as to what tree it had once belonged ; it was too large for fir, — and, from the svu-rounding growth, was probably oak. Forty-seven specimens fell to us ; and, as only the odd seven were females, the species is clearly one of the Polyandria. These females were found in copuhl, the balance of males rambling about in search of partners ; most of them shammed death on being touched, and one flew briskly. The insect varies much in size, from 2\ lines to 4 ; and the female is readily distinguishable by her much stouter build, and much shorter and thicker antenna). As usual in insects of soft integuments, some amount of distortion or malformation occurred in the number taken, chiefly in the antenntr ; in one example, those organs are apparently female on tlie left and male on the right. In another, a <? , the right front tibia is deejily bifurcate at the apex, the upper furcation bearing a normal tarsus, and the lower having a tarsus of which the three basal joints are normal, and the fourth is unduly dilated, two perfectly formed claw- joints springing from near tlio centre of its comparatively monstrous lobes. — E. C. Kvi',, rarkfield, Putney, S.W. : SepLonher, 1875.
A^oie on an unrecorded hahit nf Cryptojjhagus pnpuli. — During a recent ramble of Mr. Marsh and myself to Farnham, Surrey, we chanced to pass a high cutting of soft sandstone, extending for some little distance along one side of the road, tlio perpendicular sides of which proved to be riddled with thousands of burrows of Colletes Davicsana, containing abundance of the insect in all its stages j and, on looking closely round the holes of the Colletes, and at the base of the cutting, wo found a Cryptophagus in abundance. This, on examination, turned out to be the rare C. populi, a species hitherto found in fungus and rott en wood.
Judging from the specimens obtained, it ajipetirs to me to be one of our most
108 [Octoijc-
Variablc species, Ihe difference in size between some of the examples being considerajjig (li lin. to liliii-)j f^"'^ ^^^*^ colour being (in most cases) entirely ferruginous {grawi^Q Ktz.),orw'ith an ill-defined elytral dark spot, or with entirely dark elytra : the dig^ form, I noticed, was rare. Examples of the Cri/ptophagtcs were also to be obtairj^ by tapping the holes of the Colletes, so I have no doubt the beetle lives in ts;]^ burrows. Various species of Cryptophagus have, I believe, been found in bees' nesj]^ but I do not think C. populi has been so recorded. — Gt. C. Champion, 274, Walwor^f Eioad, London, S.E. : September 8lh, 1875.
Notes on Coleoptera in Cornwall, Sfc. — During the stay of H. M. S. " Swiftsun ^^ at Plymouth, since April last, I have been enabled (though by no means as fully i I could have wished) to investigate the Coleopterous Fauna of the locality : m , operations being, howevei", almost entirely confined to the Cornish side of the Tama- As I leave England in a day or two, once more for the Mediterranean, I have drawi^ up a few hasty notes on the more important of my captures, which may be interesting as shewing, from a Coleopterist's point of view, the productiveness of this (I belicvr comparatively unworked district. ; ,
By far the best collecting-ground within reach I found to be Whitsand La^. distant about four miles from Devonport. Here, about a quarter of a mile from For Tregantle, is a sort of " chine " in the slate cliffs, the western side of which, as wel as the lower part of the cliffs themselves, for a few hundred yards, is covered with an accumulation of sand blown by the winter gales from the beach below. A vigorou; growth of the ordinary coast sand-loving plants {Glaticium, JErodium, Eryngmm^ Ononis, &c. &c.) occurs on this spot, while the clitTs themselves are clothed with a profusion of "samphire" {Crithmum maritimum), wild carrot {Daiicus caroia), and many other wild flowers and plants, some of great intei'est to the Botanist. The sandy spot was, however, almost entirely the scene of my operations. Stimulated by the capture here of Psammodius j)orcicollis. 111., in June, I afterwai'ds visited the locality almost every week : but although I was often tantalized by finding fragments of the beetle on the sand, it was not until quite the middle of August that I succeeded in taking it in small numbers beneath the surface of the sand, under small stones, as well as at the roots of stunted herbage.
Other beetles which occurred in this prolific spot comprised Harpalus tenebrosus, which was common under stones and herbage, but, unfortunately, not recognising it for some time, I did not take so many as I might otherwise have done : I'liytosus halticus and Oxytelns maritimtis, under sea-weed, &c. : Fhaleria cadaverina, in pro- fusion in the sand under sea- weed, the specimens nearly all having the dark markings on the elytra very strongly developed, forming some striking varieties : Oliorhynchus rtigifrons, common under Ononis : Ccenopsis Waltoni : Sitones Waierhoxisii, not rare on Lotus : OrthochcDtes, Molyies coronatus, Jlypera plantayinis and suspiciosus, under herbage : Tychius lineatulus, common on Anthyllis : Ceuthorhynchideus ier- minalus, rarely, and C. Dawsoni, in great abundance at roots of I'lantago lanceolata ; Apion conjltiens, llooJceri, Gyllenhali, &.C., under Ononis: A. atomarium, under Thymus : Chrysomela hccmoptera, common beneath stones : and very many commoner species. The Ifemiptera too were well represented : — Therapha hyoscyami (running and flying actively in the hot sun, and partial to viscid plants, such as J£rodmm, Ononis, &c.) : Dieuches luscus : Henestaris laticeps (common), and Salda ortiiochila, among others, occurring to mc on more that one occasion.
General sweeping in laues, &c., was not particularly productive. The best things
" ot by this method were Calodera mnbrosa, Stenns plantaris, Cyrtusa pauxilla,
'ctis pediculariuSfJj. (locally common on Spircca iilmaria), Meligethes distinctus
mmon on Teucrium), Sitones cambrlcus, Gymnetron beccahiinga', var. veronica},
uthorhynchus setosus, Cissophagus hederai, Hylastes ohscurus, Lamprosoma concolor
Wmon), Cryptocephalus pusillus (fine Tarietics) and morcei, Phratora eavifrons,
S., &c. By sweeping on the top of the Whitsand Cliffs, Antherophagus silaceus
d Salpingii.i ater occuiTed singly, among others ; and of the latter insect, I found
specimen walking on the side of a building in Keyham Dockyard, where Ischiomera
:lanura was abundant in early summer.
* Mount Edgecumbe Park yielded (besides the traditional Mesites Tardii) Crypto-
^'hagtis rujicornis (1) and Cis alni under oak bark. — James J. Walker, E.N.,
"i. M. S. " Swiftsure," Plymouth : August 2\st, 1875.
Sphindus duhius, Sfc, at Chatham. — Being at home in July on leave of absence, ^ made a day's excursion to one of ray favourite collecting-grounds near Chatham. t^ ■ -st went to the old fallen beech tree I have previously mentioned as being so tiroduetive (E. il. M., vol. x, p. 252), and found it still unexhausted. In about an %our I succeeded in finding, in small mealy fungi growing on the rotten wood, two ^r three Sphindus dubius in company with a few Agathidium rotundatum : and, in pther small fungi, Bolitochara l^cida, Liodes orbicularis, and Aspidophotnts occurred, 111 three iu some numbers, with one or two Lathridius testaceus. By sweeping ,indcr oak trees I got Dasytes oculatus (several), Abdera 4-J'asciata (1), Ceutho- rhynchideus versicolor (in abundance), Hylesinus oleiperda, &c., &c. — Id.
A second contribution to the list of Aculeate Uymenoptera of North Wales. — Two years ago I published a list of -Aculeate Uymenoptera captured by myself in the vicinity of Bangor, and I now give the result of captures made during a month's residence at Barmouth. Some of the species have already been recorded from that locality, captured by the late Mr. Dale, but only two or tliree that I can call to mind.
According to my observation. North Wales is by no means a locality rich in .iculeata, although the large tract of sand-hills at Barmouth would lead a Ilymen- opterist to expect great results from so apparently promising a field ; I confidently expected a far more valuable collection. One or two rare captures will be observed in the list, but of these only one example, or at most three specimens, rewarded very diligent search ; these were made during the last week in July, being the first of the four I spent at Barmouth. The weather, during my sojourn, was exceptionally fine for North Wales ; every lane, valley, and mountain-side was bright with a great variety of flowers, but insects of all kinds were rare ; similar attractions in Kent, urrey, or Hampshire, would liave proiluced an endless variety of insect life.
The most important capture made is no doubt Astata stigma; this species was not known as British before 1815, when I captured a female at Weybridge, iu ;he month of August ; ten years elapsed before it was again taken, when I found two females during the first week of September at Deal. Mr. Edward Saunders took one of the same sex last year at Littlehampton, and throe have occurred to me it Barmouth. The male has not been captured, to my knowledge, in Britain ; it is readily distinguished from the other sex, wliieh iu general appearance it closely
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111
'Soie on the larva of Abia sericea, Linn., Iltg. — Tlie lifo-historr of this common spocios has not been hitherto described, and I am therefore glad at being able to give fl iloscription of the larva.
When full-fed, the head of the larva is rather small compared with the size of the 2iul segment ; the colour is black, with the parts surroumling the mouth somewhat paler ; and the skin is covered with short whitish hairs. The upper half of the body is dark greyish-slate, and marked as follows : in the centre <rf the back there is a row of twelve black marks ; joined to these outwardly there ia a row of twelve orange L^ , • marks ; and joined to these again, but placed more towards the end of the bodv, is a
' row of larger black marks ; and between each pair of the last mentioned black marks is a small black dot. The lower half of the sides is white. The feet and claspers • ' ■ -oji arc white ; and over each are two black marks, one above the other. The skin is rather downy, and in furrows ; and on each segment are two rows of white tubercles. The spiracles are brownish, and the last segment is paler than the rest of the body.
Wlien young the markings are scarcely, if at all, visible. The egg-laying I have not been able to observe. The food-plant is Scabiosa succisa, the leaves of which the larvae devour at the edges ; and whenever the creatures are touched they roll themselves up into a ball and drop to the ground, ejecting at the same time a fluid firom apertures in the sides. This fluid is of the same nature as that given out by Trichio- sofiia and Cinibex, but the liquid of the Abia seems to me to have a bitterer taste^ When feeding, the head is usually pressed close to the feet.
The larvae are found from July to October, and spin a large double egg-shaped ooooon in the earth, and change to pupae in May and Jmie. — P. Caalebox, Juru, Glasgow : 16th September, 1875.
firiEJRT.
sar'iixeiaai ik
A. FiE.r:E-i:
Ltfccena Alexis hermaphrodite. — I have much pleasure in sending you notice of the capture, by myself, of a hermaphrodite specimen of the common blue {Poli/om- matiis Alexis). The right pair of wings are male, and left pair female, the difference being equally well marked on both sides. May I ask if this is a rare occnrrence ? The specimen is now in the cabinet of Murray Aston, Esq., of Hatchgate, Horley. It was captured in a lane near Horley on the 1st of this month. May I also draw your attention to the great abundance of the feathered gothic moth {Heliophohus popularis), Mr. Aston having taken nearly thirty specimens, during the last two weeks of August, at a lamp in the hall of his residence. Can you inform me what is the food-plant of the larva of this handsome moth ? — T. M.\tthews, Station Road, Horley : September oth, 1875.
[About half-a-dozen instances of hermaphroditism in L. Alexis have been recorded. The larva of IT. popularis feeds on various grasses. — Eds.J.
SphintB amvolvuli at Emaworth. — On the ISth ultimo, a little boy brought to me, screwed up in a piece of paper, a very fine living Sphinx convolvuli, $ , which had been taken in a gjirden. The moth was kept alivo in the hope of obtaining eggs. I lavished a lot of flowers for her sustenance each evening, to induce her to lay on Convolvulus arvensis, which was suppUcd growiug in a pot, but she died on the eighth day without laying eggs, and a post-mortem examination proved that she had none to lay. — W. BrcKLEB, Emsworth : lith September, 1875.
i m * '■* *
i- •» t !1 *
i 'i4
I? ,irf
4$^
110 [Oetuber,
resembles, by a wliito curved spot immediately below the anterior stemmjv. This insect so very closely resembles TacTiytes pompiliformis, that I always capture the latter insect and satisfy myself that I am doing so ; by adopting this plan I detected Astata at Barmouth ; the latter is at once known by its having three distinct ocelli, and the mesothorax highly polished above ; these characteristics serve to distinguish it on capture ; the neuration of the wing is better examined in the study. I think it not unlikely that it may be mixed with specimens of Tachytes in some stores of Symenoptera.
A single specimen of the extremely rare Agenia bifasciata was found ; it is some years since I last took it ; it is in few collections.
Of ApidcB only one rare species occiirred, Andrena nigriceps ; two females, and, for the first time, what I beUeve to be its male.
DasypoAa Mrta I found on the sand-hills, but not very numerously. Of some species only males were taken, therefore the locality would yield the other sex during September.
Nysson dimidiatus, always a rare species to me, occurred, but I scarcely think the sand-hUls could be its proper habitat, having usually found it in cultivated situations ; there arc four species of the genus found in Britain, only one of which I have found plentifully, Nysson spinosus ; it frequents the wood-spurge, and biuTows in the ground, but I have never- been fortunate in detecting it with its prey.
Some of the commoner species of ants are more abundant at Barmouth than I have elsewhere observed them ; on the mountain sides, as well as in the valleys, a nest is found under almost every stone that is as large as a man's open hand. On one favourable evening, tens of thousands, if not of millions, were on the wing ; they dropped in innumerable numbers everywhere ; the shore was alive with their hosts. The species appeared to be three in number, Formica nigra, Jlava, and umbrata. Ilyrmicidcc were equally numerous under stones, &c., but I did not observe any great flight of them ; they must at times be on the wing by myriads.
The following is a list of the species observed ; those marked with the prefix * were abundant.
Fam. FoEMiciD^ : Formica *rufa, *cunicularia, *fusca, *nigra, *iimhrata, *flava. Fam. Myemicid^ : Myrmica *scalirinodis, *ruginodis, Icsvinodis. Fam. Pompilidj5 : Pompilus *plumheus, *gibhus; Priocnemis hyalinatus,exaUatus; Ceropales *niaai.lata. Fam. SpHEGiD^ai: : AmmopJiila viatica. Fam. LAEEiDiE : Tachytes *pompiliformis, Astata stigma. Fam. Ntssonid^ : Nysson dimidiatus, Harpactus tumidus; Mellinus *arvensis. Fam. Ceabeonid^ : Crabro*Wesmaeli,hrevis,cribrarius; Oxyhelus *uni- glumis, mucronatus ; Diodontiis tnstis, Cemonus lethi/er, Alimesa *unicolor. Fam. PiiiLANTHiDiE: Ccrceris * arenaria. Fam. Eumenid^ : Odynerus parietum, antilope. Fam. Vespid.1; : Vespa * vulgaris, germanica. Fam. Andbexid.e : Colletes succincta, *Jodiens ; Prosopis hyalinata, Halictus ruhicundus, *leucozoniu^, albipes, villosultis ; Andrena nigriceps, pubescens, albicncs ; Dasypoda hirtipes. Fam. Cuculinid^ : Coelioxys simplex, Epeolus variegatus. Fam. DASTGASXEiDiE : Megachile maritima. Fam. BoMBiCE: Bombus *muscorum, *sylvarum, *hortorum, Scrimshiranus, Hucorum, Hapidarius. Fam. Cheysidid^ : Chrysis ignita, Hedychrum *ardens. — Feedk. Smith, 27, Richmond Crescent, Islington : S^temher, 1875.
18,-5. : 111
Note on the larva of Abia sericea, Linn., Iltg. — The life-history of this conimou sprcios has not been hitlierto described, und I am therefore ghul at being able to give a deseription of the larva.
When full-fed, the head of the larva is rather small compared with the size of the 2nd segment ; the colour is black, with the parts surrounding the mouth somewhat paler ; and the skin is covered with short wliitish hairs. The upper half of the body is dark greyish-slate, and marked as follows : in (ho centre of the back there is a row of twelve black marks ; Joined to these outwardly there is a row of twelve orange marks ; and joined to these again, but placed more towards the end of the body, is a row of larger black marks ; and between each pair of the last mentioned black marks is a small black dot. The lower half of the sides is white. The feet and claspcrs arc white ; and over each are two black marks, one above the other. The skin is ratlier downy, and in furrows; and on each segment arc two rows of white tubercles. The spiracles are brownish, and the last segment is paler than the rest of the body.
^\^len young the markings are scai-cely, if at all, visible. The egg-laying I have not been able to observe. The food-plant is Scabiosa succisa, the leaves of which the larva; devour at the edges ; and whenever the creatures are touched they roll themselves up into a ball and drop to the ground, ejecting at the same time a fluid from apertures in the sides. This fluid is of the same nature as that given out by Trichio- soma and Cimbex, but the liquid of the Abia seems to me to have a bitterer taste. "When feeding, the head is usually pressed close to the feet.
The larvse are found from July to October, and spin a large double egg-shaped cocoon in the earth, and change to pupiB in May and June. — P. Camehon, Jun.,, Glasgow : 16th September, 1875.
Lycaina Alexis hermaphrodite. — I have much pleasure in sending you notice of the capture, by myself, of a hermaphrodite specimen of the common blue {Polyom- matus Alexia). The right pair of wings are male, and left pair female, the difference being equally well marked on both sides. May I ask if this is a rare occurrence ? The specimen is now in the cabinet of Murray Aston, Esq., of Ilatchgate, Ilorley. It was captured in a lane near Ilorlcy on the 1st of this month. May I also draw your attention to the great abundance of the feathered gothic moth {Heliophohus popularix), Mr. Aston having taken nearly thirty specimens, during the last two weeks of August, at a lamp in tlie hall of his residence. Can you inform me what is the food-plant of the larva of this handsome moth ? — T. Mattuews, Station Road, Uorley : September Wi, 1875.
[About half-a-dozen instances of hermaphroditism in L. Alexis have been recorded. The larva of //. popularis feeds on various grasses. — Eds.J.
Sphinx convolvuli at Emsworth. — On the IBlh ultimo, a little boy brought to me, screwed up in a piece of paper, a very fine living Sphinx convolvuli, $ , which had been taken in a garden. The moth was kept alive in the hope of obtaining eggs. I lavished a lot of flowers for her sustenance each evening, to induce her to lay on Convolvulus arvensis, which was supplied growing in a pot, but she died on the eiglith day without laying eggs, and a post-mortem examination proved that she had none to lay. — W. BucKLEB, Emsworth : lUh September, 1875.
112 ; October.
8phir,iD cnnx^olmili at Kingussie, Inverness-shire. — Mr. William Duck has sent to the British Museum a male specimen of Sphinx convolDuU captured at Kingussie, N. B. The specimen is quite spoilt, but I thought the locality might be worth noting. I see Edinburgh given in the ' Manual,' but as I know nothing of the authority, I send you an undoubted one. — Fredk. Smith, British Museum : 2nd September, 1875.
[In the ' Scottish Naturalist,' vol. i, p. 118, S. convolvuli is stated by Mr. Traill to have been taken at Ilarray, Orkney. The species is not included in Zetterstcdt's ' Insecta Lapponica,' nor (as a real Finland insect) in Tengstrom's ' Catalogus Lepi- dopterorum Fauna; Fennicse." — Eds.].
On collecting and rearing the Psychidce. — The rearing of the larvaj of the PsychidcB, ■whatever certain authors may say, is very simple and easy ; but certain thiugs must be specially attended to, and if they are not observed to the letter, there vrill be no development of the perfect insect.
The first point (and this I think is opposed to the practice of collectors) is to collect the cases as soon as possible after the winter is well set in, in order to avoitl Ichneumons, the sworn enemies of Lepidopterists ; and because, as I have proved, there is a much more numerous development of the perfect insects when the cases are taken before they have been fixed, probably because the larvae cannot endure disturbance at the time they are changing to pupse, or even the pupiB, for I have often found that a pupa fallen from its case is a pupa lost. I do not hesitate to nurse these industrious larvse for three or four months or more previous to their development, and I never had cause to regret this procedure.
The cases of the PsyclddcB must be put in boxes having a cover of wire gauze, the meshes of which should be proportionate to the size of the larvte. In the boxes should be put a layer of peat-earth, and tlien a layer of moss, in order, as much as possible, to inn'tate nature, and to preserve fresh the plants placed therein. Through the moss must be placed the food-plants, wliich must be kept fresh and abundant until the larva has finally fixed its case ; this is not very difficult, as a large number are polyphagous, and are content with Poa annua, or other low-growing plants, common everywhere. It will only be necessary to place the food-plants in the earth, and to water them from time to time. The boxes should always be in the open air, and with an eastern aspect. The rearer of the Psychidce shoidd be convinced that the rays of the sun are never too ardent for them, and that they are indispensable both for the larvaj and pupae. In order to hasten the development, the boxes may be taken indoors during the night, but they must not fail to be put out again the first thing in the morning.
I regard also, as a conditioji essential to success, that the Psychidce should not be disturbed, nor even touched, if it be possible to avoid it. When they are finally fixed (I say finally, because as they turn round in their case this is an important matter to them) they expend much vital power, and there is often not sufficient left for their transformation ; then the lai-vaj are compelled to return and feed again. It is therefore highly necessary to watch them, and not to leave them without food until it is certain they have turned to pupae. When at length no larvae move, the cases vliich arc not fixed should be suspended from the part which was originally the head-end by a piu fixed in the side of the boxT
1RV5.) 11.'}
The feeding up being ended, llierc remains one point not less important, that is to watch for the appcaraiice of the perfect insects, in default of which the specimens •will be spoiled, for the ardent males often scarcely wait to be fully developed before they struggle and hunt after the females, which have sometimes not even seen the light. The moths appear between eight and ten o'clock in the morning ; there are some species, however, which do not appear so soon, others which come out in the morning or at night, and one {Epichnopterix helix) only at the dusk of the evening. — Georges Rouast. (Translated from the " Feuille des Jeunes Naturalistes," September, 1875).
Larentia ccesiata and rnficinctata (Gn.). — Previous enquiries for information on points which I could not myself work out satisfactorily, having generally proved eo unfruitful, I now wish to express my thanks to those entomologists who have kindly answered my appeal at page 7 of this volume, and ask for a little space to supplement and correct my notes on L. rnficinctata and ccesiata.
Wlieu I called rnficinctata ' double-brooded,' I had not obtained a second brood myself, but was under the impression that this had been effected in Scotland as far north as the localities where the moth is taken ; further enquiry has, however, elicited that the information on which I relied was not well founded ; and although Mrs. Hutchinson, at Leominster, has with ease obtained, from moths bred in the month of jMay, eggs that resulted in a second (light of moths in August, I think it has been made quite plain that the species cannot be properly called double-brooded in its natural condition.
Dr. Chapman tells me that wlieu he lived in Scotland he sometimes bred and captured stray specimens forced out by exceptional circumstances in autunm, but these were small in size, and with subdiaphanous wiugs, — weakly creatures who could not continue the race, and therefore not in fairness to be taken into account : and he agrees with Dr. Buchanan White that the food of this species is Saxifraga aizoides.
CcBsiata also has been shown to have but one flight in the year, appearing earlier in England than in Scotland. As to its food, the insect must be called polypliagous having been found in some numbers feeding on S. aizoides, while the larva; I have received from the north of England have always seemed to prefer whortleberry. Speaking from the experience of others as well as myself, I think it would be found very difficult to rear the larva on ling alone, and that some juicy food would be needed in addition.
Thanks to the kindness of Mr. C. Fcnn in forwarding mc eggs,! can now supply an omission in my paper. The egg is somewhat more brick-shaped tliaii fliat of rnficinctata, being oblong, with the edges and one end rounded ; the shell glossy, with the reticulation so slightly raised, and the enclosed spaces so little sunk, that it might be called embossed rather than reticulated : the colour, five or six days before the hatching of the larva, wann ochreous, afterwards pale dusky. The young larva is pale drab, without lines, the dorsal region having a darker tinge that the rest of the body, with a still darker edging : the head olive brown, rather glossy ; the usual dots hardly seen, the bristles simple and extremely short. — John Hellins, Exeter: September 8th, 1875.
Habit nf larva of Cidaria sagiltala, — I find a doul)t i.s expressed in (he pag(<s of
lli, [October,
the 3'^ntomologist's Monthly Magazmc (by Mr. C. Barrett, vol. vii, page 278) as to the correctness of the observation, originally made by Mr. A. Fryer, of Cliatteris, on the habit of the larva3 of Cidaria sagittata gnawing the stems of their food-plant and feeding on the withered leaves. I have much pleasure in sending two pieces of Thalictntm flavum found by myself on the 18th ultimo near Chatteris, and which will, I think, bear out the correctness of Mr. Fryer's statement. I took one larva off the leaf which is partially eaten, and one (at rest ?) on the stalk of the other specimen, just below the place bitten. I might add I noticed several plants which had been served in the same manner.— Wm. Saunders, 1, Asliley Villas, Borough- bury, Peterborough : September ISi/i, 1875.
[The leaves received with their stems partially bitten fully confirm Mr. Saunders' observations. — Eds.].
Spilodes palealis, <^'c., in Norfolk. — On the 20th of August I took two specimens of this insect, one in my garden at Thetford, and the other in Croxton Parish, tliree miles distant. Mr. Barrett, in his able paper on Norfolk, says no recent captures have been recorded. Colias Edusa and llyale seem to have changed seasons, as I took, in the same locality, Edu.sa on the 2 ith of June, and llyale at the end of August. For Pterophorus laitiis, I was chiefly indebted to the keen sight of a kind friend, more accustomed to its rapid flight. — Battershell GtILL, 9, Cambridge TeiTace, Regent's Park : l3th September, 1875.
Spilodes palealis on Barton Moss. — I had the pleasure of capturing a female of the above species on the 21st August, flying amongst the heath, and about seventy yards from the London and North-Western Railway, in the presence of Mr. Robert Kay, of Bury. The insect had been very likely carried on some passing train from some unknown locality nearer than Folkestone. — Joseph Chappell, 1, Naylar Street, Hulme, Manchester : September, 1875.
Capture of Cramhus latistrius, Haw., at Addingtoyi. — On the 19th of August, at the foot of the Addington Hills, next Shirley, I put up among the heather a male of Crambus latistrius, but having only a large sweeping-net, I was unable to \ise it for capture, so there ensued a veritable chasse du papillon, and eventually, when we were both tired of running and flying, respectively, I took it from a sprig of heather with a pill-box. — J. W. Douglas, Lee : 12th September, 1875.
Psoricoptera jibbosella near Plymottth. — On the 27th ultimo I found this curious little moth in Bickleigh Vale, to the north of Plymouth. Probably it had not been recorded previously west of Bristol, but it has been no rarity in collections since Mr. Barrett 'blew' it off tree-trunks at IJasleiucre. Provided it does not rain (!), I know of no more charming spot in England, for a naturalist of any kind (or even for the mere tourist), than Bickleigh Vale. — R. McLachlan, Lewisham: September nth, 1875.
Note on the odour emitted by Ilemiptera. — Is it possible that a bug can develop aii ether wliich, under certain conditions, will (tiuse anaesthesia to itself? Last week
1875.] 115
I collected, on some uettlcs, four cxaTiijilcs of Cajtsu.s capillaris and two lleterotoma, all of -whicli I put into a small tube 50 mill, long, and 8 mill, diameter ; some time after not one of them moved, although they did not appear to be dead. The odour exhaled appeared to me to be the same as that of the compound ethers known and employed in commerce under the name of fruit-essences ; and, corroborating this impression by obsei-ving the complete insensibility of the insects, I considered ■whether they themselves, after having discharged their (supposed) etherial emanations within a restricted and enclosed space, had not succumbed to their aniEsthetic action ; actually when they had been for some minutes under the influence of a fresh atmos- phere, which was charged with a little ammonia, the Capsidce came back to life. The experiment was then tried under a small bell-glass in which I had put a drop of acetic ether to be volatihzed, and I obtained a result identical with the former, namely, the same insensibility, the same appearance of anajsthesia, and the same time for recovery.
It seems to me, after these facts, that it may be possible to establish that the emanation from certain Hemiptera is a true ether, having the power of affecting even the producers themselves, but I will not venture to assert this, and shall be glad to learn the opinion of such of my colleagues who are more capable than I am to decide the question. — fi. PiEHRET. (Translated from the " Compte-Eendu " of the Societe Entomologique de Belgique, 7th August, 1875).
Loxops coccineus in September. — Wliilst beating for species of Psylla and Trioza on the 2ud inst., I took tliis insect in as fine condition as if it had just emerged from the pupa state. It was, as usual, amongst the biuiches of seeds of the ash {Fraxinus excelsior), and not uncommon. — John Scott, Lee: '7th September, 1875.
Note on the larva of Mesovelia furcata. — In the " Notiser ur Siillskapets pro Fauna et Flora Fennica Forhandlingar," xi, 303, 169 (1870), Dr. John Sahlberg described the larva of a species of Hemiptera taken in Karelia in 1869 on the leaves of the yellow water-lily (Ntiphar ItiteaJ, of which larva the imago was unknowia to him. and ho referi'cd it to a new unnamed genus intermediate between llydroessa and Velia. Subsequently he had the goodness to send me an example under the provisional name of Mesovelia Parra, but now, having seen recently captured examples of the larva} of Mesovelia furcata, Muls., taken with the imago, I am able to say that they arc specifically identical. Dr. Sahlberg was the first to see this species in the larva-form, and he having no means of knowing that it was the larva of M. furcata, and it being very unlike the imago, not unnaturally assumed that it was a new species, but his sagacity is shown by his coiTcct reference of it to the genus Mesovelia. The habitat is not confined to the water-lily, for the original French example was taken among the debris of a marsh, and tiie English ones among rushes growing in water. — J. W. Doroi-AS, Lee : Auyust 2i)th, 1>S75.
Capture of Ulopa decussata and U. trivia, Oerm. — On the 21st August, at Riddlesdown, where in April last I casually found a single example of Ulopa decussata (vide ante p. 15), I spent some hours in searching for more at the roots of the varied herbage that grows thickly round the juniper bushes, but all endeavours to find another one were fruitless. But, half-an-hour before I had to leave, I saw
\IQ [October,
some yoimn; plants of Oaliiim verum growing somcivliat isolated on apiece of ground from wbicli tlio tnrf had been removed, and at the roots of these I found- not only C^. deeussata, but also U. trivia — five of the former and four of the latter. This then is the secret of their life, and v^ithout knowledge of it, patience, and knowing w'hat to look for, the channc of getting the creatures is very slight indeed. It is only by the keenest looking that they can bo seen, for they lie without motion, and do not jump when touched. All the examples of U. decussata are $ , and of U. trivia are $ , and they are doubtless the sexes of one species, as Fieber has put them in his " Katalog," but under the new specific name of Qermari, for which I do not see the necessity. Germar, in his " Magazin der Entomologie," iv, 56, 3, has described another species, Z7. liigens, vrhich he says was taken with U. decussata, and although Fieber cites it as distinct, this may be because he did not know it, and it is to me a question whether or not it is any more than a form of decussata. — J. W. Douglas, Lee : 2oth August, 1875.
EEVISION OF THE LEPIDOPTEROUS GENUS EUSEMIA, WITH DESCRIPTIONS OF NEW SPECIES.
BY ARTHUR G. BUTLER, F.L.S., F.Z.S., &c.
From the date of the piiblicatiou of Walker's Museum Catalogue to tlie appearance of Dr. Boisduval's Mouograpli of the AgarlstkloB hardly anything had been done towards describing the beautiful and numerous new species of this genus.
The above-mentioned paper, however, professed to add five new species, whilst it overlooked nine, previously recorded by AValker and Moore ; the errors of this "Monograph " have, however, been already pointed out by Mr. Kirby (Cist. Eut., pp. 343-347) and by myself (Ann. and Mag. Nat. Hist., s. 4, vol. 15, pp. 135-144), whilst at the same time, I published eight descriptions of new forms. It therefore now only remains to extricate the species from the confusion into which they have got, which can be best done by giving a complete list of them.
Genus ETJSEMIA, Dalman.
1. — E. YicTiiix Group.
1. EUSEMIA SILIIETENSIS.
J^usemia silhctensis, Butler, Ann. and Mag. Nat. Hist., s. 4, vol. 15, p. 139, n. 1 (1875).
Silhet (BouUcday and Argent) . Type, B. M.
2. EtJSEMIA TTEIA:N'TniN^A, n. sp.
Wings above blue-black ; primaries with two stccl-bluo spots at the base, and one or two at the cud of the cell ; two large creamy yellowish spots, placed obliquely
1875.] 117
just before the middle of the wing, one witluii Die cell and the other upon the intenio-median area ; secondaries shot with purple, with a rather wide steel-blue border and black fringe ; body as in E. victrix ; wings below nearly as above, but the creauij spots of primaries united, and the steel-bluo spots absent.
Expanse of wings, 3" V".
X. India. Type, Coll. F. Moore.
3. EUSEMIA VICTEIX.
Eusemia victrix, Westwood, Cab. Orient. Eut., pi. 33, fig. 3 (1847). Nepal {Wright). B. M.
4. EuSEillA ORIENTALIS.
Eusemia oricnfaHs, Butler, Aun. aud Mag. Nat. Hist., s. 4, vol. 15, p. 139, u. 2 (1875).
Mussooree {Leadbeater') . Typo, B. M.
5. Eusemia NiaEiPEKNis.
Eusemia nigrijjennis, Butler, Ann. and IMag. Nat. Hist., b. 4, vol. 15, p. 140, n. 3 (1875).
Ceylon {Tempi et on) . Type, B. M.
2. — E. adulathix Gtkoup.
G. ErSEMIA BELLATRII. •
Eusemia bellatrix, "Westwood, Cab. Orient. Eut., pi. 33, fig. 2 (1847).
N. India, N. Bengal, Moulmeiu. B. M.
7. Eusemia adulateix.
Eusemia adulatrix, Kollar, in Iliigcl's Kasclmiir, pi. xx, fig. 1 (1848).
N. India (Stracliey), Nepal. B. M.
8. EUBEMIA sectinotis, ti. sp.
Nearly allied to the preceding species, but deeper in colouring, Tritb the yellow band separated into two large yellow spots ; the lower postccllular bifid yellow spot smaller, aud the white sub-apical spots rather larger. Expanse of wings, 3".
E. India and N. India. Type, B. M.
9. Eusemia coxteacta, n. «/;.
Smaller than the three preceding species, all the yellow and white spots smaller; the yellow band of primaries united, but strongly incised on each side in tlio centre ; the lower postcellular bifid spot reduced to a mere dot, or pair of dots ; the spot at anal angle of secondaries much larger and yellowish instead of reddish-orange ; the bauds on abdomen bright orange, not red. Expanse of wiugs, 2" G-8'".
India, B. M. ; S. India {Ward). Coll. F. Moore.
118 [October,
10. EUSEMIA SIMPLEX, n. Sp.
Differs from the four preceding species in having the yellow band of primaries narrow and parallel ; no postmedian yellow spots ; the white discal spots somewhat narrow and elongated ; anal spot of secondaries and bands on body golden-orange.
Expanse of wings, 2" 7'".
Canara (Ward). Type, Coll. F. Moore.
This is decidedly more distinct than the four preceding, all of wliich, however, are doubtless locally constant, and must, therefore, rank as species.
11. EUSEMIA AEFLICTA, n. Sp.
Allied to JS. adulatrix, &c., but with the yellow band of primaries more oblique, and forming an unbroken oblong patch, nearly equal in width from end to end ; lower bifid spot rather small ; anal spot of secondaries large, golden-orange ; bands on posterior segments of abdomen golden-orange.
Expanse of wings, ? <? , 2" 8"'; ? , 2" 1'".
^? Matheran, Bombay (Dr. Leith), $ Bombay.
Type, Coll. F. Moore.
The insect, which appears to me to be a male with the anal Talves closed, is marked as a ? ; it, however, has the broad thorax character- istic of a male insect, and is brighter in colouring than the other example (an undoubted female).
3. — E. LECTETX Group.
12. ErSEMIA LECTEIX.
JPIialcena Noctua lectrix, Linnajus, Mus. Lud. Ulr., p. 389 ; Cramer, Pap. Exot., ii, p. 14G ; pi. 192, fig. c (1779).
China. Four examples, B. M.
13. EUSEMIA MACULATRIX.
Eusemia viaculatrix, Westwood, Cab. Orient. Ent., p. G7, pi. 33, fig. 1 (1847).
Silhet. Two examples, B. M.
14. EUSEMIA NIPALENSIS,
J£usemla nipahnsis, Butler, Ann. and Mag. Nat. Hist., B. 4, vol. 15, p. 140, n. 4 (1S75).
Nepal (Bamsay, &c.). Type, B. M.
15. Etjsemia distincta.
Eusemia distincta, Butler, Ann. and Mag. Nat. Hist., 8. 4, vol. 15, p. 140, n. 5 (1875).
Silhet (Douhleday). • Type, B. M.
IS75.] 110
IG. ErSEMIA IRENEA.
Eusemia irenea, (Do Ilaan), Boisduval, Eeviic ct Mag. de Zool., s. 3, vol. 2, p. 84, n. 4 (187-1).
Khasia Hills. Coll. E. Moore.
? Coll. B. M.
Dr. Boisduval does not mention tliat the tegular are sulphur-yellow. The localities he gives are Timor or Sumatra.
4. — E. VETULA Group.
17. Eusemia communis.
Eusemia communis, Butler, Ann. and Mag. Nat. Hist., s. 4, vol. 15, p. 140, n. G ; pi. xiii, fig. 1 (1875).
Silhet. Type, B. M. ; Coll. E. Moore.
18. Eusemia coMMU]s^iCA:ys.
Eusemia communicans, Walker, Lep. Het. SuppL, 1, p. 50 (18G4). India, and sp. ead. ? Penang. B. M.
19. Eusemia vetula.
Heradia vetula, Hiibner, Zutx\ cxot. Schmett., figs. G57, G58 (1832).
Java (IIo)'sfie!d). B. M.
20. Eusemia fasciatrix.
Eusemia fasciatrix, "Westwood, Cab. Orient. Ent., p. G7 (1847). Eusemia hijugata, Walker, Journ. Linn. Soc., vi, p. 85. Sarawak (Wallace). B. M.
21. Eusemia con^exa.
Eusemia connexa, "VYalkcr, Lep. Het., 7, p. 1773 (185G).
Java {Rorsfield). Type, B. M.
5. — E. BisMA Group.
22. Eusemia bisma.
Eusemia hisina, Moore, Cat. Lep. Mus. E. I. Comp., 2, p. 287 (185S 0).
Eusemia Lamherliena, B(ji«luval, Revue et Mag. dc Zool., s. 3, vol. 2, p. 83, n. 3 (1874).
Java (Uorsfield). Type, B. M.
0. — E. dentatrix Group.
23. EUSEMI.V DEXTATRIX.
Eusemia dcntatrix,V[ciiiwood, Cab. Orient. Ent., p. GS ; pi. 33, fig. 5 (1847).
Nepal and N. India. B. M.
1 20 [October, 1S75.
7. — E. YILLTCOIDES GkOUP.
24. EUSEMIA VILLICOIDES.
Eusemla vilUcoicles, Butler, Ann. and Mag. Nat. Hist., s. 4, vol. 15, p. 141, n. 7 ; pi. xiii, fig. 2 (1875).
Ilakodadi {White! ij). Type, B. IM.
Also in Mr. Moore's Collection.
8. E. EUPHEMIA GeOUP.
25. EUSEMIA SUPERBA.
Eusemia sitperla, Butler, Ann. and Mag. Nat. Hist., s. 4, vol. 15, p. 141, n. 8 ; pi. xiii, fig. 3 (1875).
XantliospUopterijx rjeripn, Wallengren {iiec Fabricius), Kongl. Svenska Yetensk.-Akad. Handl., 5, n. 4, p. 7 (1SG5).
(J Zulu (Angas); ? Port Natal (Queinzius) . Type, B. M.
2G. Eusemia aeeicana.
Eusemia africana, Butler, Ann. and Mag. Nat. Hist., 8. 4, vol. 15, p. 142, n. 9 (1875).
^ Durban (Trimen), ^ $ Natal (Gueinzius and Gooch), ^ Zulu {Angas). Type, B. M.
27. Eusemia eupiiemia.
Phalcena eupiiemia, Cramer, Pap. Exot., iv, p. 105 ; pi. 345, fig. A (1782).
$ . Noctim geryon, Fabricius, Ent. Syst., iii, 2, p. 28, n. 67 (1793). "W. Africa, Ashanti, Guinea, White Nile. B. M.
That this is the species described by Fabricius (and not the insect referred to N. geryon by Wallengren) is proved by the following words in the description : — " Alaj antica? atra% maculn ohlonga ad mar- ginem interiorem baseos et quijique in disco flavescentibus."
28. Eusemia pardalina.
Eusemia pardaliim, Walker, Trans. Nat. Hist. Soc. Glasgow, vol. i, p. 5, pi. V, fig. 1 (18G9).
Eusemia ochracea, Butler, Ann. and Mag. Nat. Hist., s. 4, vol. 15, p. 142, n. 10 (1875).
Congo {Richardson). B. M.
Walker's figure of this species is too brightly coloured, but it unquestionably represents the insect recently described by myself.
29. Eusemia coxtioua.
Eusemia contigiia, Walker, Lep. Het., 1, p. 50, n. 7 (1854). ■ ? {Milnr). • Type, B. M.
Novcinlwr, 1875 ] 121
30. EUSEMIA BUTLEEI.
Eusemia Butlcri, Walker, Characters Ilet. Lep., p. Ill (1809). ? Coll. T.]A\' . AV^ood.
31. Eusemia LONGiPENXia.
Eusemia longipennis, Walker, Lep. Het., 1, p. 51, n. 9 (1854).
AVest Africa, Ashanti. Type, B. M.
32. Eusemia pallida.
Eusemia pallida, AValker, Lep. Het., 1, p. 52, n. 10 (1854). ? Type, B. M.
33. Eusemia termixatis.
Eusemia terviinatis, Walker, Lep. Het., 7, p. 1587, n. 16 (185G). ? Type, B. M.
34. Eusemia eriopis.
Arjarisia eriopis, Herricli-Scliaffer, Lep. Exot. Sp., ser. 1, pi. 7, fig. 31.
Madagascar. Coll. E. Stretcb.
Allied to E. ferminatis, but much smaller.
9. — E. AGEIU8 Group.
35. Eusemia ? zea.
Eusemia zea, Herrich-Schaffer, Exot. Sctmett., fig. 85 ; Boiwduval, Eevue et ^lag. do ZooL, s. 3, vol. 2, p. 74, n. 34 (1874). Cazamanca.
3G. Eusemia aobius.
Eusemia agrius, Herrich-Schaffer, Exot. Schmott., fig. 33. Madagascar.
37. Eusemia pedasus.
Eusemia pedasus, ncrrich-SchiifEer, Exot. Schmctt., iig. 31. Madagascar.
38. Eusemia pales.
Eusemia pules, Boiaduval, in Guerin's KtVne aniin. Tiih., ])1. Ixxxiii, llg. 1.
Antananarivo.
10. — E, BASALI8 Group.
39. Eusemia perhwa.
Eusemia peshna, Moore, Cat. Lep. E. I. Conip., ii, p. 2S0, n. 0(!3 ; pi. vii", fig. 2 (1S5S-9). N. India and Ceylon,
122 [November,
The following species Beems allied to E. peshwa, and may perhaps be referred to Eusemia.
40. Eusemia basalis.
Eusemia basalis, Walker, Lcp. Ilet., i, p. 53, u. 12 (1S51). Bengal. Type, B. M.
11.— E, BELANGEKII GeOUP.
41. Eusemia vittata.
Eusemia vittata, Butler, Ann. and Mag. Nat. Hist., s. 4, vol. 15, p. 143, n. 13 (1875).
Java {KorsfielJ). Type, B. M.
42. Eusemia subdives.
Eusemia subdives, AValker, Journ. Linn. See., iv, p. 19G, n. 5 (1860).
Malacca (Wallace).
43. Eusemia belaivgerii.
Eusemia belangerii, Gruerin-Meneville, Voy. de Belanger, Atlas, Ins., pi. 5, fig. 3.
Java (HorsfieU). B. M.
44. Eusemia moojbei.
Eusemia moorei, Boisduval, Revue et Mag. de ZooL, s. 8, vol. 2, p. 77, n. 41 (1874) ; Eelder, lieise der Nov. Lep., 4, pi. cvii, fig. 5 (1874) .
Java (Rorsjield) . B. M.
Boisduval says that this species is from the Moluccas ; but this must be an error.
45. Eusemia hespeeioides.
Eusemia liesperioides, Walker, Journ. Linn. Soc, vi, p. 86 (1862). Sarawak {Wallace and Loid). B. INI.
The example presented by Mr. Low has the tawny band of secon- daries continued across the wing.
46. Eusemia pulchea.
Eusemia pulchra, Butler, Ann. and Mag. Nat. Hist., s. 4, vol. 15, p. 143, n. 12 ; pi. xiii, fig. 4 (1875).
Muhrut, India {F. Walker). Type, B. M.
47. Eusemia teicoloe.
Eusemia tricolor, Butler, Ann. and Mag. Nat. Hist., s. 4, vol. 15, p. 112, n. 11 (1875). •
tiuniWAk {Wa/L'cr). Type, B. M.
1876.] 123
12. — E. AMATRix Group.
48. ErSEMIA PEOXIMA.
JEusemia proxima, Walker, Lep. Ilet., 1, p. 50, u. G (1854). Assam (Wanvick). Type, B. M.
49. EUSEMIA AMATRIX.
Eiisemia amafrix, Westwood, Cab. Orieut. Eut., p. G8, pi. 33, fig. 4 (1847). Assam.
50. EuSEillA CLTMENE.
Eusemia clymene, Boisdural, Eevue et Mag. de Zooi., s. 3, vol. 2, p. 72, n. 80 (1874).
Eusemia amatri.x, Boisduval {nee Westwood), I.e., p. G3, n. 11. Java {Rorsfield). B. M.
51. ErsE^riA aruija.
Eusemia aruna, Moore, Gat. Lep. E. I. Comp., ii, p. 288, n. G59 (1858-9).
Darjeeling.
52. Eusemia aeruana.
Eusemia arruana, Boisduval, Revue et Mag. dc Zool., s. 3, vol. 2, p. 75, u. 36 (1874). Aru (Lorquin).
53. Eusemia tacillans.
Eusemia vacillans, Walker, Lep. Ilet. Suppl., i, p. 51 (1SG4). Celebes. B. M.
Excepting iu the absence of the tawny band of sccondarii-s, this is extremely like E. clymene.
13. — E. vc;x'A\i* Citoup.
54. Eusemia tulcania, n. sp.
g . Prinmries bluo-black, fringe white at apex ; a plumbaginous streak across the middle of tlic cell, and a second on discoccllulars ; a central group of three sulphur-yellow spots, separated from each other by the median nervurc and its first branch, the first spot sub-quadrate and within the cell, the second cuneiform at base of first median interspace, the third considerably larger, sub-orato and notched in- ternally ; four white spots in a nearly straight scries beyond the coll ; secondaries steel-blue, with purplish and grecni-*h rcflcci ions, costa reddish-brown ; fringe of outer margin broad and snow-white ; head brown ; palpi and collar fulvous ; thorax bhiek ;
224 [Ni.vemljcr,
abdomen inrioiblo groen, anal tnft fulvous ; wings below brown, shot all over with bright steel-blue and green ; lower yellow spot of primaries divided longitudinally by a black line ; costal margin fulvous ; otherwise as above : pectus, coxse, femora, lower margin of tibia; and tarsi, and venter, orange. Expanse of wings, 2 in. 5 lin.
Burmah. Type, Coll. Y. Moore.
This is one of the most striking species in the genus,
55. ErSEMIA EUDAMOIDES, n. sp.
$ . Primaries blue-black at base, becoming deep chocolate-brown towards outer margin, apical fringe white ; veins at base, a streak across the centre of the cell, and another on discocellulars, plumbaginous ; a central group of three spots, nearly as in the preceding species, but pale buff (almost white) ; a pale buff oblique fasciole beyond the cell ; secondaries deep brown, with apical fringe white, a central deep ochreous band, becoming diffused towards costa ; head and collar fulvous ; antennae testaceous, annulated with black ; thorax black ; abdomen deep ochreous, barred with triangvdar black spots ; wings below chocolate-brown, primaries, with costal margin, orange ; spots nearly as above, but larger and white ; secondaries with the central band broader, otherwise as above ; body below deep ochreous.
Expanse of wings, 2 in. 4 lin.
Celebes (Wallace). Type, B. M.
This species bears a label with the name Damias endamoides ; it is an undoubted Eusemia, although the eecondai'ies are rather narrow.
14. — e. albomaeginata greoup.
56. Eusemia albomaeginata.
Eusemia alhomarginata, Moore, Proc. Zool. Soc, p. 5G9 (1872). Burmah. Type, Coll. F. Moore.
I think that Eusemia funehvis, Moore (loc. cit.), must belong to the group which I have lately referred to Agarista,
15. E. DOLESCHALLII GeOUP.
57. Eusemia doleschallii.
Eusemia doleschallii, BoisdTival, Eevue et Mag. de Zool., s. 3, vol. 2, p. 77,n. 40 (1874) ; Eeldcr, Ecise der Nov. Lcp., 4, pi. cvii, figs. 2, 3 (1874).
Amboina.
58. Eusemia semperi.
Eusemia semperi, Boisduval, Eevue et Mag. de Zool., s. 3, vol. 2, p.. 76, n. 38 (1874) ; Feldcr, Eeisc der Nov. Lcp., 4, pi. cvii, fig. 4 (1874). Celebes.
[IS75. 125
59. ECSEMIA LETHE.
Eusemia lethe, Boisduval, Revue et Mag. de Zool., s. 3, vol. 2, p. 77, n. 39 (1S71) ; Felder, Eeise dcr Nov. Lep. 4, pi. cvii, fig. 7 (1871). Celebes.
I have much doubt as to the following species belonging to this genus.
GO. ? ErSEMIA BATESII.
Eusemia hatesii, Boisduval, lievue ct Mag. de Zool., s. 3, vol. 2, p. 7S, u. 42 (1874) ; Felder, Eeise der N'ov. Lep. 4, pi. cvii, fig. 8 (1874). Moluccas.
Gl. ? Eusemia lindigii.
Eusemia lindigii, Boisduval, Revue et Mag. de Zool., s. 3, vol. 2, p. 78, n. 43 (1874) ; Felder, Reise der Nov. Lep., 4, pi. cvii, fig. 6 (1874).
Moluccas.
This species closely resembles Phasis separata, Walker, an Amer- ican species.
G2. ? Eusemia josioides.
Eusemia josioides, Walker, Lep. Ilet. Suppl., i, p. 54 (1SG4).
Gilolo.
Seems to approach the genus Arctioneura, Felder.
G3, ? Eusemia flaticiliata.
Eusemia Jlaviciliata, Boisduval, Revue et Mag. de Zool., s. 3, vol. 2, p. 79, n. 44 (1874).
Philippines.
G4. ? Eusemia meoisto.
Eusemia me/jfisfo, Boisduval, Yoy. de I'ABtrolabe, Lep., pi. v, fig. 5, p. 179 ; Revue et Mag. de Zool., s. 3, vol. 2, p. 79, n. 4(5 (1S74).
Dorey.
Dr. Boisduval himself says, " It would perhaps be better located " near the genus Vi/essa, of Mr. Moore."
I believe that I have given reasons for expunging from this genus all the remaining species described as Eusemicc in my paper on the Agaristiilce (Ann. and Mag. Nat. Hist., s. 4, vol. 15, pp. 135 — 144). I would, however, add that, unless E. mollis and E. emolliens differ sufliciently from E. Jincea and E. hamhuciiia to form a distinct genus, they may be placed with tliem in the genus Ophthuhnis.
British Mueeiuu : September, 1875.
12u [November,
DESCRIPTIONS OF THREE NEW SPECIES OF DIURNAL LEPIDOPTERA FROM CENTRAL AMERICA.
by heebeet deuce, f.l.s., f.z.s.
Ceeatinia Boucaedi.
Upper-side, $ , black. Anterior wing witli the base rufous, a large central black spot in tlio middle of the cell, a band of three yellow streaks near the apex and a sub- marginal row of six white spots. Posterior wing rufous, with the outer margin broadly black, a smaU black spot at the end of the cell.
Under-side the same as above, with the addition of a sub-marginal band of white spots on the posterior wing. The $ differs from the male only in the width of the black margin of the posterior wing, which is much wider and has a sub- marginal band of wMte spots.
Exp. <? , 2i inch ; ? , 2 inch.
Hab. Veragua. Mus. Di'uce.
I have miicli pleasure in naming tlie above new species after Mr. Boucard, tbrough whose kindness I have been enabled to add many beautiful specimens to my collection.
Ceeatinia Mtlassa.
Upper-side, $ , anterior wing black with the base rufous, a large bright yellow spot at the end of the cell ; a band of four yellow spots, the first on the costal margin small, the fourth nearest the anal angle large, and a sub-marginal row of seven yellow spots, the thi'cc at the apex are the largest. Posterior wing rufous with a black spot at the end of the cell, the outer margin blackish.
Under-side, anterior wing the same as above ; posterior wing with tlie costal margin broadly black ; the black spot as above, and three white spots at tlie apex.
Upper-side, ? , anterior wing the same as the in male, but with the yellow spots much smaller ; posterior-wing, the outer half broadly black, a rufous spot near the apex, and a sub-marginal row of white spots.
Under-side, the same as above. . Exp. <J, 2^ inch; ?, 2| inch.
Ilab. Veragua. Mus. Druce.
Ithomia Pagasa.
Upper-side, $ , black ; anterior wing crossed beyond the middle by a semi- transparent band of pale yellow, beyond which, and close to the costal margin, is a large yellow spot, two white spots near the apex, and one below, nearer the anal angle. Postei'ior wing black, crossed in the middle by a broad yellow baud.
Under-side, the same as above, except that both wings have a sub-marginal row of white spots. Female the same as the male.
Exp. 2 inch.
Ilab. Veragua. Type, Mus. Druce.
Also in Mus. Salvin and Godman.
The above species is allied to I. ZeJica, Hew., but differs from that species in many respects.
London : Ocioher, 1875. *
i^rs.] 127
DESCRIPTIONS OF THREE NEW SPECIES OF TENTHREDINIDJS FROM SCOTLAND.
BY P. CAMEEOK, JUN.
Nematus Caddekensis, sp. n.
N. hreviusculns, nitidus, hifciis, antennis articuUs 2 primis, macnlis 2 vel 3 mesonoti, ahdomineqice dor so fere toto nigris ; coxis, trochanteri- biis, tibiis^ue pallidis, tarsis posticisfuscis ; aJis ampUs, hyalinis, stiff- mate testaceo. $ . Long, fere 4 lin.
? . Antennse a little longer than the abdomen, liitcous, the two basal joints black ; the 3rd, 4th, and 5th joints almost equal in length, the remaining joints shorter. Head bright luteous ; the ocelli brownish ; the labruni and elypeus whitish- yellow ; the antenna; at the base surrounded with black. Thorax bright luteous, shining, finely punctured ; the pronotum slightly paler than the mesothorax ; two (often three) black longitudinal stripes are on the mesonotum: the large white cenchri are surroundeel with black. Abdomen short, tliick, and broad, of a like colour to the thorax, the upper surface from the base to the commencement of 2nd last segment black ; the cerci are very short, hairy, and of a pale yellow colour, the anal segment also hairy ; the triangular incised part at the base of the abdomen pale yellow. The sheaths of the saw are faintly marked with black. Feet pale luteous ; the C0X8B, trochanters, and tibia; whitish-yellow ; the posterior tarsi with the apex of the posterior tibiae pale fuscous ; claws toothed. Wings longer than the body, hya- line, iridescent, with a decided fuscous-yellowish tinge ; the costa and stigma testa- ceous, nervures black ; the 2nd recurrent nerve is received a little in front of the sub-marginal one. The entire body is covered with a close wliitish down.
The c? has the antenna; entirely black, sometimes faintly fuscous at the base, shorter and thicker than in the ? , and tapering considerably towards the apex. The head (mouth excepted), mcso- and meta-thorax, and abdomen above, black. The wings are shorter in proportion to the body than in the ? . In some specimens, the eyes are surrounded with luteous.
Lakva. — Head smaller than the 2nd segment, the colour intensely black, and the surface covered with a slight microscopic down, and somewhat punctured ; the sides of the mouth slightly greenish. Feet glassy greenish-white, with black claws, the claspers light green. The body above is of a beautifid dark sca-gi-ecn colour, and the lower half of the sides is whitish. On the sides, are ten largo oval orange spots, each divided by the folds of the skin into two parts, which are however closely con- tinuous. Below the orange marks, is a row of roimdish irregular dots, and below these again, and directly over the feet, is a row of oblong longish black spots. Over the orange spots, is a line of close continuous black dots, of irregular shape, but somewhat oval. These marks proceed from tlie 2nd to the 12th segment. On the back at the termination of the segments, are two rather small roundish black dots. Directly over tlie anal segment is a large black spot, much larger than any of the other marks, ajid the last segment is also beset witli a few longish hairs. The ccrci are black, white at the base. The lower part of the body is white. In shape the larva is identical with that of N. melanocephalus, and the length is about li inch.
The pupa is green.
128 [Xovcmber,
The larva) 1 found feeding on Salix cinerea in August, on the hills between Port Grlasgow and Grreenock ; and I have got them feeding on birch in Cadder Wilderness, Hannoch, and Kingussie, in June, July, and August. They eat along the edge of the leaves in a similar fashion to the larvae of ISf. melanoce'pJialus. The cocoon is double, and, in confinement, was spun either in the earth or between the leaA'ea ; the flies made their appearance in July, and from the late-feeding brood in the following spring, there being evidently two broods in the year. In some of the cocoons the outer covering is separated by a considerable space from the inner one.
Comparing this species with specimens of N. croceus, Fall. (= fulvus, Htg.), taken in the same localities, it is seen that the antennae in Cadderensis are shorter and thicker ; the abdomen is also shorter, and at the same time broader and rounder : further, the cerci are shorter, and the wings in croceus are much clearer, these in Cadder- ensis having a decided yellowish tinge ; the clypeus in the latter species is apparently deeper notched ; but all these are characters in which both species tend to vary, and I am at a loss to point out distinctions that will serve to discriminate the two species. We seem to have here a case like in Lophjrus similis and L-i^ini, where two very differently marked larva? produce very similar imagos ; and, in the present instance, there is another interesting peculiarity, viz., the very great resemblance which the larva of Cadderensis bears to that of N. melanocephahis, the only apparent mark of distinction being, that in the former the orange marks are nearly (if not quite) free from the black marks ; while in the latter, these go through them in the middle.
It is also worthy of remark that the imagos produced from the willow-feeding larvae are smaller and darker coloured than those got from birch, and the willow larvjc had besides a much brighter green colour.
I have submitted specimens of N. Cadderensis to Dr. van Yollen- hoven and to Professor Zaddach ; the former gives as his opinion that it cannot be distinguished from his iV. trimaculatus (Tijdschr. Ent. Decl V, G9, pi. 4), while the Prussian naturalist is equally sure that there is no way of separating it from JS'. croceus ; but the discovery of the larva clearly shows that it is really a distinct species.
AT. trimaculatus, Yoll., is I think only a var. of JSf. croceus. The N. trimaculatus, Lep., is doubtless the gooseberry pest.
With regard to AT. melanocephalus, it may be useful to give its synonymy, as it has been involved in no little confusion.
1875.] 129
TenthreJo sal ids, Dc Gccr, Mein. ii, 259, li, tab. 37, figs. 12—21 ; Nemntiis melanocepJialHs, Ilartig, Blatt- u. nolz-wespcn, 219, 52 ; N. perspiciUaris, Brisclake, Bcschr. etc. dcr Blattwespen Larveii, 7, pi. 1, fig. 3 ; ^'i salicis, Thomson, Hymen. Scand., i, 141, 70.
The species was not known to Hartig, who merely abstracted Do Geer's description, and applied the name of melanocephalus to it, ho rightly remarking that it is not the TentlireJo salicis, Lin. Bnt Thom- son has judged otherwise, and ho has renamed the Nematus salicis, Hartig (which that author considered to be identical with T. salicis, Lin., and in my opinion he is perfectly correct in doing so), iujlatus, and adopted the name of salicis for the other species. It seems to me, however, that the only safe course is to use Hartig's name for Uo Geer's insect, unless an earlier name be discovered.
Nematus doesatus, sp. n.
JV! nitiilus, rufo-hiteus, antennis (vel SKpni) ,7ncso7ioti later ihus, meta- nofo, ahiJominisque dorso pro parte nigris ; ore, trochanierihus, tibiisque p) all id is ; alis ftavescenti-hyalinis, stigmate Jlavo-testaceo, bast vel nigro.
Long. 3^ lin.
$ . Antennffi shorter than the body by about three-quarters of a line, filiform, tapering slightly towards the apex, 3rd and 4th joints equal, the rest a little shorter ; the colour is luteous, with a black line above the whole of the joints, or more usually only above the first two. Ilead luteous, covered with a wliitish down, the portion below tlie antennae and the outside of the eyes white ; clypeus deeply notched ; the tips of the mandibles brown ; palpi pale ; the clypeus and surrounding parts densely covered with white hair ; the ocelli black. Thorax luteous, densely covered with down ; the pronotum paler ; breast luteous, very smooth and shining ; the sides of the mcsonotura and the metanotum black ; cenchri prominent, white. Abdomen luteous, and at the base narrower tliau the thorax, and from that it gradually decreases in width towards the apex, which is acuminate ; the dorsal surface (es- pecially on the basal part) more or less marked with black ; ccrci very long, the saw considerably exscrtcd. Feet pale luteous ; coxte, trochanters, and tibijc, whitish. Wings hyaline, faintly yellowish, the costa, stigma and nervures (except at the apex) yellow-testaceous. The 1st sub-marginal nervure is very faint ; the 2nd sub-marginal cellule is about a quarter longer than tlie 3rd ; the 2nd recurrent nervure is nearly joined to the 2nd sub-marginal. In the under-wing what Thomson calls the " nervus recurrens " is joined to the " nervus transversus ordinarius," wliidi is not the case in N. luleus. Aberration : a, stigma black at the base ; b, doi-sal surface of abdomen devoid of black ; c, posterior wings smoky.
The S is unknown to me.
Larva. — Full fed. Body cylindrical. Ilead brownish-red, mouth black ; eyes situated in a longish black splash, which extends from the vertex. IJody to the middle of the sides brownish-red, obscured with black, the black tint being deeper
130 [Xovember,
on the sides than on the back ; the lower part of tlie sides and anal segment reddish- brown, without any black markings, the last segment hairy. The skin is smooth and shining ; the feet reddish-white. Length, 11 — 12 lines.
The larvpe feed on birch, and walk very fast and restlessly, and "when touched by anything the body in lashed about furiously. The flies I have taken from June 8th (which is the earliest date I have noted) to the end of that month ; the earliest larvae I have seen were on the 10th of the same month ; and again I find them at the end of July and in August. Prom a larva which spun up on the 31st July I reared the imago fifteen days after ; and from these observations it is clear that the species is double brooded. The cocoon (which is double) is spun in the earth.
This species differs mainly from J^. luteus in having the abdomen acuminate, with its dorsal surface black ; in the face being more sharply pointed ; and in the above-mentioned difference in the alar neuration. In addition to this, the habits and coloration of the re- spective larvae are totall}^ different. It has clearly a near relationship to N. acuminatus, Thoms., and I formerly considered it a variety of that sjiecies ; but Prof. Zaddach tells me that he has a specimen of the true acuminatus, and that it does not agree with mine ; moreover, Thomson's species has the breast black.
N. dorsatus has occurred in Inverness-shire, Kannoch, and Bishop- ton, and is not an uncommon species.
And now a few words regarding JSTematus luteus. In Scotland, three color varieties of it occur : first (and this is by far the rarest) there is the entirely lutcous form, which seems to be the commonest on the continent, and is that described by Thomson ; second, there is the very common form, with the edges of the mesonotum and meta- notum black ; and third, there is a variety similarly coloured to the last, but having besides three (sometimes two) black marks on the mesonotum. That this last form really belongs to luteus is certain, from my having reared it from the ordinary larva. It seems not to have been described by any author, unless it be var. b. of If. Khigi, (Dbm.) Thoms. (= hilineatus, Klug), which very closely resembles it. N. Klugi (typical form) is without any doubt a good species. I have a sj^ecimen that I believe pertains to it, which I took in Grlen Peshie.
The only author who has described the larva of AT. luteus is Kal- tenbach (Die Pflanzen-Peinde, 619). It may be found very commonly on the alder, resting on the upper surface of the leaf, and eating holes in its centre in a like fashion to the larva of Hemichroa luridiventris. It has the head of an obscure greeniat-yellow colour, with a brown
1875.] 131
mouth and two black marks on the vertex, and covered closely with short hairs. The feet are light green, and are almost hidden by the over- hanging folds of the body ; the claws are brown. The body is flat, tapering towards the end, its colour is green, not unlike the colour of the alder leaf, and the skin is studded over with minute white tubercles, fourteen or fifteen to a segment, their number decreasing towards the anus ; the skin at the sides has some hairs attached to it. Length, from 8 — 10 lines. The cocoon is very close and compact, and is spun iu the earth.
It is very like the larva of -^ ahdominalis, but may be easily known from it by the two marks on the head.
PHiEXUSA ALBIPES, S]). 11.
p. nigra, nitida,antennis longis ; pedibtis albidis ; tarsis posticis fere fuscis ; alisfupiatis. ? . Long, fere \\ lin.
Black, sliining, corerecl sparsely with a very short pile, only visible in certain lights. Anteunre a little shorter than the body, slightly pilose ; the 3rd joint longer than the 4th. Feet entirely white, posterior tarsi and tips of anterior faintly fuscous. Wings smoky, costa, nervures, and stigma black ; the marginal nervure is received a little past the middle of the 2nd marginal cellule. Sheaths of the saw and saw itself largely projecting.
It comes near to P. pygmcea, but is readily distinguished from it by its longer autenna>, black tcgulw, and almost entirely white legs.
Taken in a rose bush, in Cadder Wilderness, on 20th August last.
It may be here pointed out that Phyllotoma tormentilloe, Healy (Ent., iv, 135), Fenusa pggmcea, Healy (Ent., v, 300), Kalteubach (Die Pflanzen-Feinde, 225 and 227), = Fenella nigrita, AVestwood.
Glasgow : October Itli, 1875.
DESCRIPTION OF AN ADDITIONAL SPECIES TO THE LIST OP BRITISH HEMIPTERA.
BY EDW'ABD SArNDERS, F.L.S. MACKOCOLErS TANACETI.
Phgtocoris tanaceii, Eall., Hem. Suec, p. 83, No. 13. (m<?c Oncotglus tanaceti, Fieber, Dougl. and Scott).
? . Sub-oval ; golden or oraugc-yellow, or greenish-yellow, densely covered with black bristly hair.n, sparingly inteniiixed on the head, thorax and scutellum with a few whitish ones. Membrane sub- pclhu'id, nerves golden-yellow, surrounded by a dusky cloud, cells clauded. Under-side palely pubescent with a few black bristly hairs, legs covered with black hairs, tibia; with strong black spines. Antennae hairy.
132 [November,
Length, 2 lines. On Tanacetam vulgare. Ctobham, Surrey.
Closely allied to M. molliculus, but differing from it in the colour and the absence of the dark band, and the downy pubescence so characteristic of that species.
I am very glad to be able to add this species again to our list, especially as I was obliged to sink the species described under the name tanaceti by Messrs. Douglas and Scott, as a synonym of Tinice- phalus horttilanus. I may say that Mr. Scott quite agrees with me that the above is Fallen's true species.
Thus far, I have only found the ? , but hope to get the ^ next year, — the latter seems to be very rare, as Dr. Renter (who finds the ? ) says in his excellent book on the Capsidie of Finland, " Mas mihi incognitus."
2, Spencer Park, Waudswortli : l^th Octoher, 1875.
OBSEEVATIONS ON SOME SPECIES OF BOLITOCHARA, WITH DESCRIPTION OF A NEW EUKOPEAN SPECIES.
BY D. SHARP, M.B.
Considerable discrepancy prevails in the European collections as to the names of some of the common species of BoJitochara, and I have for a long time been in doubt as to the correct names of the species in my own collection. The recent publication of the part of Mulsant and Rey's " Ilistoire Naturelle dcs Coleopteres de France," treating of the " Bolitocharaires,"' has enabled me to satisfy myself about certain of the points that were doubtful to me, and has also convinced me that 1 have a new species in my collection. E-ey describes in the work alluded to six species, viz., S. lucida, B. elongata, B.Jlavicollis, B. lunulata, B. ohiiqua, and B. varia ; and two of these, viz., B. elon- gata and B.Jlavicollis, he considers to have been unknown to Erichson. The first of these, viz., B. elongata, is undoubtedly a quite distinct species from B. lucida ; but it is not the BoUtochara elongata of Heer, as M. Key supposes. A considerable portion of the types of Heer's species of Staphylinidce came into my possession with Castelnau's col- lection, and among these types are three individuals of BoUtochara elongata, Heer ; these specimens are B. Jlavicoltis, E.ey, with which insect, moreover, I consider that the description of Heer fully agrees (it is inapplicable to B. elongata, Rey). I think, therefore, it would be undesirable to use the name B. elongata a second time, and would propose to call this species B. Mulsanti*
18.T. 1 133
Ad i-egarcls the hccoikI of Key's new species, viz., JJ.JlacicolUs, I feel pretty certain that it is the £. lunulata of Erichsou and Kraatz, Avliile B. lunulata, Key, is the same as B. hella, Kraatz. I have re- ceived specimens of B. hella from M. Ch. Brisout de Barneville, under the name of B. lunulata, and M. Faiivel formerly named individuals of B. hella as B. lunulata for Mr. Crotch, while Key liiniself tells us that a number of specimens of B. hella sent to him by Dr. Kraatz are not distinct from B. lunulata. The descriptions of Key moreover fully support this view.
I consider the synonymy to run as follows : —
1. BoUtochara lucida, Er., Kr., Key.
2. BoUtochara Mulsanti.
elongata, Muls. & Key.
3. BoUtochara lunulata, Er., Kr.
elongata, Heer. JlavicolUs, Muls. & Key.
4. BoUtochara hella, Maerk., Kr.
lunulata, Muls. & Key.
The following new species should be placed between B. Mulsanti and B. lunulata.
BOLITOCHAEA KeTI, n. sp.
Bufescens, elytris versus angulos j^osteriores, ahdomineque ante apicem,fuscis ; capite thoraceque suhtiliter punctatis, hoc elytris multo angustiore ; elytris sat fort iter punctatis, fere cequalihus.
Long. Corp. 2] line.
Antennae fully f lin. in length, reddish, the three basal joints a little paler than the following ones, and the eleventh also slightly paler than the preceding ones, the fifth joint not at all transverse, and the tenth very ncai-ly as long as broad, the terminal joint very long, almost as long as the three following together. Dead reddisli, broad, much narrowed towards the neck, tlio eyes large, the surface rather closely, but not very distinctly, punctured. Tliorax reddish, much rounded and narrowed towards the front, in the middle in front of the base with a ratlicr largo fovea, the surface on the disc distinctly, and rather closely, punctured, at the sides very sparingly and indistinctly. Elytra broad, at the shoulders much broader than the base of the thorax, reddish in colour, slightly darker behind the scutellum and distinctly so towards the outside at the extremity, rather closely and roughly punctured, only slightly sinuate at the outer angle of the hind margin, a little depressed beliind tlie soutellura. Hind-body broad, reddisli, the penultimate seg- ment infuscate, the surface rather coarsely and moderately closely punctured.
I (jljtained the only specimen I have seen of this species from Castelnau's collection ; it is a female, and was labelled " BoUtochara lucida, P.," the "P " meaning Paris ; Casteluau, I believe, received the specimen with Gautier des Cottc's collection.
134 [November,
The species is extremely similar in form to B. lucida, but is rather broader, and has the autennse longer, the terminal joint being very distinctly longer ; the head and thorax are more finely punctured, and the elytra are very nearly without the conspicuous depressions of B. lucida. Its larger size, more elongate antennie, and thorax more rounded and narrowed towards the front, readily distinguish it from B. lunulata (Jlavicollis, Rey).
I have much pleasure in naming this conspicuous species in honour of the talented entomologist of Lyons, to whom we owe the recent parts of the "Histoire Naturelle des Coleopteres de Trance."
Tliornhill, Dumfries :
October, 1875.
'Note on OrcJiestes semirufus, Gyll. — I have, on eevcral occasions during the past summer, beaten from wikl cherry at Woking, examples of an Orchestes, differing from semifufus in having the tarsi and club of antennae (pitchy or) black, and in some examples the tibiae and femora pitchy ; and from scutellaris, besides these characters, in being always smaller, of a darker colour, and with the head, thorax, and rostrum black. Not one of those taken (about 30) exhibits the clear red head (excepting the eyes, which are often pitchy), thorax, and limbs of 0. scutellaris. 0. semirufus has been referred as a variety to scutellaris, and my specimens above noticed appear to be even darker than those mentioned in Ent. Mo. Mag., x, p. 18. M. Ch. Brisout (Ann. Soc. Ent. Fr., 1865, p. 271), in liis Monograph, refers to one example only in which the knees and apex of the tibiae are rather widely darkened. I have captured ordinary scutellaris also on wild cherry, but never in company witli these dark insects : the former appears to be of more northern distribution. — G. C. Champion, 274, Walworth Road, London, S.E. : October, 1875.
Note on Otiorhi/nchus monticola. — The Irish specimens of an Otiorliynchns recorded by me at p. 82 of this vol. as monticola, Germ., appear to me, from an examination of a very long series of our ordinary northern species recently referred to 0. blandus, to be only an extreme form of the latter. — Id.
[The description of 0. blandus, Schon. (1836), reproduced by Stierlin, docs not in the least accord with these Irish specimens ; it says " eJytris subtiliter vage punc- tulatis, vix striatis," and the chief differential point between blandus and monticola is therein stated to be that the striae of the elytra are scarcely perceptible. O. Icevi- gatus, Gyll. (1813), identified by Thomson with blandtis,\\ViS the elytra " suhtilissime punctaio-striata, interslitiis planis, adhuc subtilius crebre et vage punctidatis ;" and this also does not at all agree with the Irish insects. Thomson makes GyUenlial's IcEvigatus the typo (lie could not adopt his name' on account of the long prior and different Icevigatus of Fabricius), terming the elytra " punciato-striatis, interstitiis ruguloxis," and, adopting SchonhciT's name blandns for the species, sinks the latter's insect as a variety, saying that the elytra have the strife conspicuous only at the base and sides, " interstitiis subreticulato-strigosis." Supposing Thomson to be correct in refer-
is'-'l 135
ring these different points of structure to the same species, a further var. is rcquii-ed to include the Irish specimens, " elytris evidenter sat grosse striato-punctatis, interstitiis siib-elevatis ;" and it is then easily seen how our correspondent has been misled, if, indeed, it be not necessary to rename a species which so contradicts its own characters ; as the original blandus is stated by its author to be distinguished by the absence of the very features it is now stated to possess. — E. C. R.]
Note on Chrysomela marginata. — This species, originally found, I believe, near Pegwell Bay, near Eamsgate, seems decidedly scarce on this side of the border, though not so uncommon in Scotland, where it has been found by Dr. Syme in Orkney (on Tlantago mariiima), and by Mr. Champion at Bracmar by sweeping alongside the Deo. If ear Edinburgh it is not uncommon, though very local. As far as I know, it is confined to one particidar spot on Arthur's Seat, a much exposed valley between the summit of the hill and a lesser peak known as the Lion's Ilavmch, about 700 feet above the sea, where the grass forms a short velvety turf, and the surface of the ground is covered with scattered fragments of the neighbouring basalt rocks. Beneath these fragments Chrysomela marginata is to be found, singly, or in twos and threes. When disturbed^ it persistently feigns death. It begins to ap^Dcar about the middle of June, and is most common about the first week in July, when I have taken as many as thirty specimens in the course of an afternoon's work, by assiduously turning over stones, &c., in its locality. I have never seen the larva or pupa, and do not know for certain what its food-plant at Edinburgh is, as no Plantago maritima grows near. The short turf of the lull is composed in great part of millefoil (AcJiillea millefoliumj , and on that the beetles may feed, as some I kept in captivity fed voraciously on this by night, returning to their shelter at the bottom of the plants by day. I have never seen it moving about in the day-time like its congeners C. menthastri and (according to Mr. Champion) cerealis, but have only found it under the stones. In Wilson's " Entomologia Edinensis," the Calton Hill is also given as a locaUty, but I have never found it there, chiefly no doubt owing to my not having looked there at the right time. — W. A. Foebes, West Wickham, Kent : llth September, 1875.
On the metamorphoses of Meloe cicatricosus. — On the 11th April, I took a pair of this species coupled, and put them under a bell-glass perforated at the top in a vase, in order to feed them with lueern, duckweed, grasses, &c., all of which they ate. On the 1st ilay, the female had scooped out in the earth a nest, an inch in length and depth, in which she laid 1500 to 2000 eggs of an orange-yellow, after which she very artistically hid the opening by a stopping of masticated leaves and earth. These eggs hatched on the 14th June, and from them came out the kind of larva well known under the name of I'riunrjulin, Dufour, and figured by De Geer, Ileaumur, Newport, Jacquelin-Duval, &c. I knew that these larvco climbed on to llymenopiera, in order that they might thus be carried into their nests, where they undergo their metamorphoses, indeed, I amused myself by causing them to climb on to flowers and thence to jump on to all the Halictus, Osmia, Mcijachile, &c., that I presented to them. But I wished to follow them further, and this was not possible while they were at liberty.
I then conceived the idea of putting some honey into a glass tube, and upon it an egg drawn from the abdomen of a Vespa vulgaris ; finally, seizing with my pUers
13G [Nuvcmbcr,
the abdomen of Halictns, $ , the sting of which was well cxscrtcd, I presented it to a TriunguUn, which at once climbed on to it. I then moved the sting up to the egg of the Vespa vulgaris, and had the pleasm-e of seeing the little larva of Meloe pass on to the egg.
This occurred on the 26th June. I closed the tube, and, lens in hand, followed the proceedings of my pupil. I proved that it ate or sucked the egg, and in its somewhat transparent body I could see that it absorbed the nutrition. It increased, its annulations swelled, the corneous plates of each segment which had touched each other were separated by a tender transparent skin ; and at length, on the morning of the Ist July, that is, in five days, the first moult took place, the thorax was split open, and I saw an elongate larva of a citron-yellow colour with a pale head and two black eyes issue from the TriunguUn, and rush boldly into the honey. Wliat will become of it in this glutinous liquid so little like both in taste and odour to the nauseous honey of the Anthophoridce ? The future will tell me ; at present, five or six hours have elapsed and the larva does not seem displeased, for it swims and frisks about like a fish in water.
This is pi-obably the first time that the rearing of Meloe has taken place with a feeding-bottle ; I have obtained the first and second larva-forms, and I will hereafter report if the three or four other forms have also been successfully assumed. — Jules LiCHTENSTEiN. (Translated from the " Compte Rendu de la Sociote Entomologique de Belgiquo :" July, 1875.)
Exportation of Humhle-Bees to New Zealand — Two nests of English Humble- Bees were last week sent to New Zealand, by Mr. Frank Buckland, for the Canterbury Acclimatisation Society. These insects are specially desired in New Zealand for the purpose of fertilising the common clover ; the proboscis of the common bee is not sufficiently long to reach down to the pollen of the clover flower, while the humble- bee is enabled to do so. In this way, the insect is expected to do great service to the agriculturist by largely extending the growth of the clover. The bees were packed in their own nests in two boxes, and will be under the charge of a Member of the New Zealand Council, who is provided with every necessary for their welfare during the voyage. They are expected to arrive about the middle of January — Midsummer at the Antipodes. — Extracted from " Natube :" lith October, 1875.
Note on Trapezonotus disting''.iendus, Flor, and its allies. — In his " Synopsis of the British Hemiptera," just published in the Transactions of the Entomological Society, Mr. E. Saunders puts Traiyezonotus distinctus, D. and S., as a variety of Fachyme^-us distinguendus, Flor ; but this does not exactly settle the question, — and thereby hangs a tale.
Pachymei-us (P.) distinguendxis was described by Flor (Rhyn. Livl., i, 266, 21, 1860) as having black antennae, with the second joint yellowish-red in the middle (Glied 2 in der Mitte gclbrothlich). In the second volume, p. 584, he again alludes to the species, comparing it with T. agrestis and T. convivus, but says not a word about any error in his former description.
Trapezonotus distinctus, D. and S.,was described in "The Entomologist's Annual," 1863, and again in the "British Hemiptera," i,19i,l (1865), as having black antennae with the third joint having a broad red ring in the middle.
1875.] 137
In the "Wiener cntomologiecho Monatschrift," viii, 215, 14 (1864), Fieber described Trapczovotus distinrAuii, D. and S., and T. distinguendus, Flor, as distinct species, but both as liaving the tliird joint of the antenna; red in the middle (GUed 3 rostrothlich, am Grund und Endc schwarz). This is vemnvkable, for he says he had the original example of distiiiguendus fi-ora Dr. Flor for inspection.
In the " Stettincr ent. Zcit.,' xix, 181, 23 (1858), Dr. Stal described Tlhiparo- chrnmus convivm as "articulis 2° ct 3° antennarum medio late flavescentibus." In the " Ofv. k. Vct.-Ak. Forhandlingar," p. 55 (1872), he repeats this, placing the species under the cenns Trapezonotus, and adds, as a separate species, T. distinguendus, Kor, but describing the antenna; as " articulo tertin pallide annulate."
In his " Opuscula Entomologica," ii, 192, 28 (1870), Thomson has Lygceus convv-us, Stul, = distinguendini, Flor ; but he says of the antenna; " articulo tcrtio fere toto rufo," which is not correct for either.
According to descriptions, there arc four allied species of Trapezonotus : —
1. distinguendus, Flor, nee auct. (= convivus, Stal, sec. Thorns.).
2. distinguendus, Fieb., Stiil, Saund., nee Flor.
3. distinctus, D. and S., Fieb. {= distingiiendiis, Flor, sec. Saund.).
4. convivus, Stiil, nee Thorns.
The question therefore to be decided is whether the above-named are really four species or only forms of one, and I commend it to the attention of those hcmipterists who haye access to type-examples. — J. W. Douglas, Lee : lith October, 1875.
Notes on some species of Corixa. — In the " Ofversigt af K. Vet. Ak. Forhand- lingar," 1854, Pastor Wallengren described as new four species of Corixa under the names of Fieheri, vaga, variegata, and vernicosa. Several months ago, the worthy Pastor sent an example of each for my inspection, and I having returned them to him by the hands of Dr. John Sahlberg, the latter writes that he quite agrees with my determinations, which are as follows: — C Fieberi and C. vaga = C. hieroglyphica, Duf. ; C. vanegata= C. intricata, D. and S., which latter name will bo superseded ; C. vernicosa is a distinct species alUed to C. Linnei, Fieb., but not yet detected in Britain.
In the "Notiser nr Siillsk. pro Fauna et Floi-a Fennica Forhandlingar," t. xiv (1875), Dr. J. Sahlberg has a monograph of the Finnish Corixre, which is of interest to us, especially with regard to the British species.
C. sodalis, D. and S., is admitted to be a good species, but C. socio, D. and S., is put as var. b of C. prcetista, Fieb. ; it appears to me, however, that the differences of marking on the elytra and tarsi are sufficient to give it rank ns a species in default of absolute proof to the contrary.
C. nigrolineata, Fieb., is reckoned as = C. Fahricii, I'ieb., but I look upon this as very doubtful. C. decora and C. diibia, D. and S., are supposed to be varieties of the species thus constituted ; but I now look upon C. decora, of which I Iiave only the single original example, as an immatvtre C. perplexa, D. and S., to wliicli I also refer the subsequently described G. Whilei, D. and S., all of which have the marginal channel of the elytra pale ; and C. dubia may be regarded as a form of C. nigrolineata. C. Sharpi, D. and S., is identified as =r C. cognnta, Fieb., and the still older C. carinata, Saldb.
Two new species are described, which not iinpri)l):il)ly may be found in North
138 [November,
Britain, viz. : — C. Wallengreni, like C.fossarum, but with the head much broader than the thorax, and rather narrower than the body, &c. ; C. pallidula, like C. Fabricii, but nearly one-half smaller, head larger, colour paler, &c. — -Id. : \st October, 1875.
Note on Typhlocyha hyperici. — Yesterday, a warm and sunny day, I made the acquaintance, for the first time in life, of this pretty, shy, dusky wood-nymph in a part of Darenth Wood where, within a restricted space, Hypericum perforatum grows plentifully among the young underwood. For the capture of such skittish creatures as the TypJdocyhidcB an umbrella or wide net is of little use, for they fly out of it directly, so I went provided with a round butterfly-net, and by placing it under the Hypericum plants, and then tapping them with a stick, I had the pleasure of getting a few examples of my desideratum. Even when thus in the net, they are only half caught, for, mixed up with dry leaves and capsules of the food plant, they are not conspicuous while they rest, and when they jump the presence of four or five examples of other species, trapped at the same time, all performing the same mad antics from side to side of the net, distracts attention from the coveted one (I never had more than one such in the net at a time), and delays the moment when a quill can be put over it. I know but of two other British examples, taken by the Rev. T. A. Marshall, and the species is noted as being rare in collections everywhere, which, considering the restricted habitat, the time of appearance, and the difficulty of capture, is not to be wondered at. — Id. : Sth October, 1875.
Notes on Lepidoptera from the Isle of Man. — I had two or three days collecting at Onchan in the Isle of Man in the middle of August last, but Lepidoptera were very scarce, and the only two species taken, not ah-cady recorded as occurring on the island, so far as I am aware, were Stilbia anomala and Crambus geniculellus. The former flew at dusk on the cliffs, and the latter was very freely beaten out of furze bushes in the day-time, along the top of the cliffs. By shaking and collecting seed- eaps^ules of Silene maritima, I secured larvae of Dianthoecia capsopliila and ceesia, and I think another species of the genus. Imagos of Folia nigrocincta and the red var. of CirrJicsdia xerampelina were not yet out, although I sugared the rocks weU for the former, and the ash-trees for the latter. ^ — Geo. T. Poeeitt, Iluddersfield : October 2nd, 1875.
Notes on the Lepidoptera of the Pyrenees. — The following list of Lepidoptera collected at Argeles (Kautes Pyrenees), may perhaps prove of use to some of your readers. I collected there during the last week of July in this year ; but, owing to the exceptionally heavy rains during the first part of the summer, which had never before been experienced by the " oldest inhabitant " of Argeles, the butterflies were not at all plentiful, and many species I expected to find were not seen at aU : — Mclan- argia Qalathea, abundant evei-y whore ; Satyrus Megoera; Epinephile Janira, Tithonus ; Hipparchia Hyperanthus, fagi, Scop., rocky places both in vaUeys and on sides of mountains ; Coenonympha Arcania, Lin. ; Argynnis Paphia, Aglaia, Adippe, Lathitnia, Dia, Lin.; Mclitcea Athalia; Vanessa C-alhum; Pyrameis Atalanta, very abundant in one shaded rocky glen, and seen nowliere else ; Lycxna Qordius, Sulz. ; Cuindo Icarus, Corydon, Avion ; Zephyrus quercus ; Lc\ico- phasia sinapis ; Pieris daplidice, somewhat Bcarcc, rapw, napi; Gonepteryx rhamni; Colias Edusa, not common ; Papilio Machaon. *Ycry few raotlis were taken. Ma-
1875.1 l;i9
crnglossa stellatarum was iibund iiit, and literally swarmed in one small mountain churchyard. Zijrcena jilipcndulce and Tanagr.i chcnrophyllntct were also seen in great plenty, but they did not receive the same attention as was paid to the diurnal Lepidoptera. — W. L. Distant, Streatham Cottage, West Dulwich, S.E.
Sphinx convnlvuli at Pidney. — I took a fine specimen of this insect on one of my windows here early last week. — H. Decastho, Cramlingtou Villa, Upper Richmond Road, Putney : 13tk October, 1875.
Sphinx convolvuli at Twickenham. — A fine specimen of this insect was captured on September 30th by Mrs. Boscher of Belle-Vue llouse, Twickenham, hovering over a Petunia in the garden. I saw another specimen about the middle of the month in the hands of a railway porter at Red Ilill Junction. — R. Meldola, St. John's Street, Bedford Row : October 5ih, 1875.
Sphinx convolvuli at East Grinstead. — A specimen of this insect was observed, on several consecutive evenings during the latter part of September, hovering over the flower beds in the quadrangle of the Sisterhood of Saint Margaret's, at East Grinstead, Sussex. — Tboyey Blackmoee, The Hollies, Wandsworth : October, 1875.
Sphinx convolvuli at Watford. — Seven specimens of this usually scarce moth have been, to my knowledge, taken in Watfoi'd during the past few weeks. Two or three have been found at rest in early morning upon door-knockers. One, a fine male, so taken by one of our letter-cari'iers, has been given to mo by its captor. I saw one flying over some plants of the Japan lily (Lilium auratumj in Mr. Clarence Fry's garden here, but failed to take it. Mr. Fry has since captured one hovering over liis petunia bed, and has seen a second, which has so far escaped. One flew into a florist's shop. My friend Mr. Lawford has taken three hovering over flowers at dusk at Hitchin. — Aethue Cottam, St. John's Road, Watford : October 16th, 1875.
An insect incendiary. — A large handsome Sphinx moth, generally brown, some- times grey, called the " Iriano " (Choerocampa Erotus, Cramer), is common in the Hcrvey Islands. The head is brown, and white beneath ; the antennoB white, and hooked at the tip ; and the proboscis, exquisitely coiled up, sometimes attains the length of five inches. At dusk, in the warm season, they are very numerous, coming out of their hiding-places and entering the dwellings of the natives, attracted by the light inside.
In ancient times, a certain method of secretly wreaking vengeance upon a foe was, on a dry night, to catch two or three " irianos," and, after carefully unwinding their proboscis, tie on narrow strips of stout native "tapa" (cloth) lighted at one end. This cloth only smoulders, and, like touchwood, never goes out. The afTrighted moths would then bo set at liberty as near as possible to the dwelling of the intended victim. The " irianos " dragging tlirough the air these strips of smouldering " tapa " would naturally make for the highly-combustible thatch. In a few seconds the house would be in a blaze ; but the real olTcnder would be at a safe distance.
To render escape impossible, the doors of the house were sometimes secured with ^rceen bark when t lie inniates were snoring. I'andamis-leaf lliatcli, when half
2j|,Q iN'i)Vombcr,
worn out, is peculiarly ignitable. The excuse given for the very common crime of house-burniBg in heathenism was revenge for the murrler of some near relatire. — W. Wyatt Gill. (From the " Leisure Hour," 11th September, 1875.)
[This ■will doubtless remind some of our readers of the belief once prevailing in certain parts of Germany, that, according to the old Insectrfabulists, the stag- beetle (-arries live coals in its jaws from house to house. — E. C. R.]
Natural History of Xylitia rhizolitha.— On the 26th April, 1874, I had the pleasure to receive from Mr. J. E. Fletcher, of Worcester, a few eggs of this species, ■which ■were laid on the 21st and 22ud of the month ; and the larva> ■were hatched on the first two days of May.
At first, and for some time, they continued to feed on the green cuticle of the tender young leaves of oak ; but, as they grew, began at length to eat Utile holes through them.
The egg is small for the size of the moth, and in shape is spherical, but a little
, flattened ; it cannot strictly be called ribbed, but is covered -with thirty-five to forty
/ longitudinal rows of pits in such regular order that their sides fonu both shallow
I ribs and transverse reticulations ; in the centre of the upper surface is a button-like
I round spot ornamented with a star of nine pairs of short raised lines ; the colour at
first was almost ■white, the tinge of yellow being very slight ; on the third day, this
turned to dull pink, afterwards blotched and streaked ■with pinkish-bro^wn, at last
becoming ■wholly brown.
The young larva is whitish, with a buff coloured head, until after the first moult, ■when, by aid of a lens, opaque white dots and hairs coidd be discerned on it : when not quite three weeks old, the larva is half-an-inch long, of a greenish-white colour, showing distinctly the white raised dots and hairs ; in four weeks, it is three-quarters of an inch long, and stout in proportion, of a rather pale bliush-green colour finely freckled with whitish, and having slight indications of dorsal and sub-dorsal lines : by this time it feeds well, eating through the leaves from the edges.
The full-grown larva measures one inch and a quarter in length, or a trifle more when stretched out in walking ; it is of uniform stoutness, and cylindrical in figvirc, the head full and rounded, the hinder extremity also rounded, and but little tapered ; all the legs are moderately well developed, and terminated by sharp hooks. The ground colour is a rather transparent pale bluish-green, appearing colder on the back and sides than it really is, from being thickly sprinkled over with minute opaque whitish freckles ; these, however, are but sparingly seen on the belly, which is of a rather yellower gi'cen ; the head is of a more tender green, with a patch of paler freckles on the side of each lobe ; on the back of the second segment are four whitish dots ; on the rest of the body the opaque whitish dorsal line is finely edged with dai'ker green than the ground, but is so much interrupted as only to appear just at either end of each segment ; the sub-dorsal shows similarly as a broken whitish line, and less conspicuous, while the spiraeular line is indicated still more faintly, existing as an interrupted series of larger whitish freckles than those ■which besprinkle the skin ; the wart-likc tubercular dots are opaque whitish, each having round the base a narrow unfrcckled ring of the semi-transparent green ground colour, and each bearing a fine wliitish hair ; the spiracles ■white, delicately outlined with black ; the terminal hooks of the legs whity-brown.
li'TO.] 141
By June ,3ril, tlu'y had attained th.ir greatest dimensions, and by the 7th had ceased to feed, and were become irritable, some having lost all their white markings and turned wholly grceu like the colour of the oak leaves, and by the evening they had retired into some light soil supplied to them, and where they spun up in cocoons, — ■ and the moths appeared from September 28th to October 7th.
I found the coccons were about three inches below the surface of the soil, and they were composed cluefly of fibrous particles spun together, and smoothly lined with pale grey silk. The pupa itself is nearly five-eighths of an inch long, and stout in proportion, being a quarter of an inch in diameter ; the head and thorax rounded, the wing-covers long, the tip of the abdomen rather bluntly rounded off, having at the end a small rough knob furnished with two small spikes curving a little outwards towards their extremities ; it is of a mahogany-brown colour, and very glossy. — William Bucklee, Emsworth : September ZQth, 1875.
Larva, of Catnptria aspidiscnna. — On the 9th September, I went to Q-range-over- Sands to look for the larvaj of Scnpulx terrealis on the goldcu-rod ; having found nine larva; about full-fed, it occurred to me that my time might be better spent in trying once more to find the larva of C. aspidiscana on the spot where I captured so many of the moths last May ; well, I had the good luck to find a larva, which had drawn the flowei-s of the golden-rod together, in a slight web ; though it is quite different from any Tortrix larva that I know, I feel quite confident it can be nothing else than at^pidiscana, as there were only a few square yards where the perfect insect occurred. I casually met Mr. C. S. Grcgson on the road-side en route for Witherslack, and he took a description and sketch of the larva as we sat on a stone.— J. B. IIODGKINSOX, 15, Spring Bank, Preston : September 30th, 1875.
The Leeds Natuealists' Field Club, and Scientific Association. — -ISOth Meeting: September 15th, 1875. — Mr. Heney Pocklinoton, F.R.M.S., President, in the Chair.
Mr. James Abbott reported the capture on the 5th SeptiMnbcr of CoUax F^diisa, near Adel Dam (six miles north of Leeds), by himself. Other members reported that the same species was taken in the vicinity of Kirkstall Road, Leeds, and also a specimen of Vanessa Antiopa in the same neighbourhood, about the beginning of September, both being now in the possession of Mr. C. W. Liversedge. — W. D. E..
IVfr. Herman Streeker, of Reading, Pennsylvania, is publishing a book which he calls " Lepidoptei-a, Rhopalocercs and Hcteroceres."
Q'hc plates are all drawn by himself, after a hard day's work, and coidd only bo done under such circumstances by an cntoinologist whose heart and soul are in his work. The book is published periodically in parts (G pai-ts appeared in 1873), con- taining one plate each with descriptions, the plates crowded with well-drawn, though sometimes rather coarse, figures, and well coloured, all forhalf-a-dollar. Twelve parts are published, in which butterflies and moths succeed each other alternately. Two plates of the large Saturnice, which are evidently the author's pets, are equal to any that have been drawn by others. Plate 10, in which are figured the " North American species of the genus Lycmna," is a marvel, and has never been surpassed in cliaractcristic drawing and faithful colounng. It contains 47 figures. [W. C. H.]
142 [Xovembcr,
NOTES ON SOME BEITISH DOLIcnOPODIDJE, WITH DESCRIPTIONS OF NEW SPECIES.
BY G. n. YEEEALL.
(continued from Page 36.J
Since my commencement of this paper, I have captured several species of Dolichopus and Oymnopternus which require noticing, and I have therefore recommenced with those genera.
Dolichopus uebajjus, Meig. — Abundant at Upware, in the Cam- bridgeshire Fens, last July.
D. PUNCTicoEXis, Zett. — When I described D. mediicornis (p. 32) that was the only species of the group with which I was acquainted ; since then I have caught a species which I believe to be Zetterstedt's D. pimcticornis. Its principal characters are included in the following diagnosis :
D. puNCTicoENis, Zett. Dipt. Skan., ii, p. 536.
I d* ? • Viridis,facieflavido-oehraced; antennis mediocribu^, articulo prima snhtiis ad apicem obscure ochraeeo ; fronte viridl, oculorum ciliis inferiorihus Jlavis ; abdominis incisuris nigris ; pedibus flavis, coxis posterioribus cinereis, tarsis nifjris, antcriorum a7'iiculis basalibus flavidis apice fusco-nigris, tibia- rum posticarum apice fere ad tertiam 'partem determinate nigro, sub-incras- sato ; alis sub-hyalinis, vena discoidali leniter flexuosd max ante apicem alee excurrente.
$ . Facie flavido-ochracca sub-a7igustd, pedibus simplicibus, sod tibiarum anticarum apice pilum sub-elongatum ferente, Tiypopygii mediocris lamellis ovatis, minorihus, sordide albidis, apice et superne nigro-marginatis ; cosid ubi vena sub-costalis excipit longe incrassatd.
? . Facie ex-albidd, antennis brevioribus, tibiarum posticarum apiice ad quintam partem nigra.
From D. mediicornis this species may be easily distinguished by its ochraceous and much narrower face, by the basal joint of the an- tenna? being only somewhat ochraceous at the tip of the first joint beneath — " articulo basali subtus ad apicem puncto parvo luteo a?grc " obscrvando " (Zett., I.e.), the antennae are also slightly shorter, and the third joint less rounded at the tip. The front coxa; bear more numerous small bristles (the front coxa> of D. mediicornis being some- what denuded), the front tibia? bear a small thin binstle inside at the tip, wliich is rather inconspicuous, the middle tarsi are paler, having the two biisal joints pale with dark tips, the hind tibiae have nearly the apical third abruptly and conspicuously shining black, slightly dilated, and with a peculiar short groove at the tip outside ; the lamellae of the
1875.] 143
hypopygium seem simllnr, but perhaps more jagged at the tip ; the wings are more pellucid, the veins being less iufuscated ; the di;^coi(hil with a slighter flexure, ending slightly before the tip of the wing ; the stigmatical swelling is very distinct, and extends for some distance.
The female may be distinguished from D. medilcornis $ by the darker antenmie, paler base of anterior tarsi, moi*e darkened tip of hind tibia?, and by the much narrower epistoma.
The only points in Zetterstedt's description which cause the slightest doubt as to the species are the size, which he calls as much as in D. trivialis, while my specimens are distinctly smaller ; and a remark which he makes under his description of D. consohrinus (D. S., xiv, p. 5050) ^ viaculicornis, Ver., concerning the flexure of the dis- coidal vein, which he calls " sub-gcniculato," while my specimens are almost " leniter flexo." D. puncticornis has hitherto only been re- corded rarely from South Sweden by Zetterstedt, and " in Germany "up to the Alps" by Loew. I found it tolerably abundant at TJpware in July this year.
D. MEDiicOB>'is, Ver. — I caught two females of this species at Fawley on June 21st ; the darkened tips of the middle tibiae seem to be a good distinctive character. The front coxa? of the male are some- what denuded.
D. LiXEAnrs, Mg. — I caught two males of this rare species at Up ware in July this year.
D. STEIGIPES, Sp. 11.
?. JEneus, sub-nitidus, facie anrjusta candidisslind,f route C(trulco, ocii- lorum ciJiis inferiori?jus albidia, ante7inis hrevihus luteis apice n'igro-fusca, pedibiis sordide luteis, coxis anticis basl, posteriorlbus totis cinereis, trochantc- rihus luteis, tarsis niffrofuseis, basi obscure luteis ; squamis pallide-cHiads ; alis sub-hi/alinis, vend discoidali leyiissime flcxuusd, fere in apicem alee ex- currente. Long. 2 lin.
3 ■ Pedihus sordide luteis, feniorlbtis preesertim postiris intus strigd lon- (jitudinali fused, tarsorvm anticornm articuUs subtus cxtrcmo apice cxalbidis ; ^typopyejii lamellis flacidis, immarrjinatis,paHide ciliatis, apice obscuris, ciliis nlgris, subtus (latere a ventre remoto) stylo longo ajiicc obscuro, j)ilis longis nigris ad apieem duobus altera in medio gerentc, instruclis. Costa ubi vena sub-costalis excijiit vix incrassata.
It is difficult to locate this new species in the genus, as I can scarcely say to what species it i.s allied ; taking tlie groups into which the genus is commonly broken up, it evidently belongs to those species with yellow femora, cilia of the lower orbit pale, antenna) chiefly yel-
14.'4< [November, 1875.
lowish, legs simple, antenna) short, disooidal vein only slightly bent, middle tarsi not silvery at the tip, wings without any dark blotch, and hind femora not (or scarcely) bearded. This leaves D. simplex, IMeig., linearis, Meig., arjiJis, Mcig., modestus, AYahlb., and perhaps parvicnu- datus, inconspicuus, and exirjuus, of Zetterstedt. From all these it is easily distinguished by its yellow fringed alula) (one specimen has two or three black hairs on each alula), and by the peculiai'ly furcate lamellae of the hypopygium, w^hich bear a long narrow fork on their under-side {i. e., the side away from the belly, when the hypopygium is in its usual incurved state) ; this fork begins a little before the middle of the lamella, and runs parallel to it, extending to about the same distance, it bears two long black hairs at or near its tip, and one or two at about half its length ; the other part of the lamella is somewhat triangular, running to a sharp, jagged, blackish point. The thorax is aeneous, with two bluish longitudinal lines and a bluish scutellum ; the antennae are short for a DoJicJiopus, luteous, with the greater part of the third joint blackish, and with the upper side a little darkened ; the face is narrow, and silvery- white ; the f rona is shining blue (as in some species of JCiphandrium) ; the legs are darkened by the abundant small bristles, the front coxae are luteous, glossed with silver in front, denuded outside, but bristly inside and in front, their base is all greyish, the hind coxae are blackish-grey, all the trochanters being luteous ; the femora, especially the hind pair, bear a dark streak nearly all along their inner side, and about the darkened part of the hind pair the bristles sometimes almost approach a beard in appearance, the hind femora are faintly darkened at the tip, bearing only one spine behind ; the tibiae all bear long bristles down their outside, the hind pair are altogether darkened, but not more so at the tip ; the basal joint of the hind tarsi bears two long bristles above, and the front tarsi seem slightly compressed, having the extreme tips of the joints whitish beneath and faintly dilated, giving the idea of a (^ Taehytrechus ; the wings are almost hyaline, the discoidal vein being only very slightly bent (I know no DoJicJiopus having it so slightly bent), the stigma is slight and inconspicuous.
The female I did not succeed in capturing, or I liave failed to distinguish it from that of D. sahimis : it should differ by its larger size, paler wings, &c. I caught five males at Fawley in Hampshire on June 21st this year.
Gtmnoptebnus gracilis, Stan. — This beautiful golden-green species abounded at TJpware last July, •
Docombor, 1875 ] ),}.5
Cr. ciiHYZOZTGOS, W. — This well-knowu European species wiis, I tliiiik, the commonest of the DoUchopodidce in the Cambridgeshire Fens last July ; scores might be seen in every little roadside ditch. The pretty ringed black and white front tarsi, the yellow antennse and face, and the dark hind tibije, easily distinguish it. The great abun- dance of this species (never previously recorded as British), and of G. gracilis^ only known to lialiday from specimens in Curtis's col- lection labelled Tlietford in Norfolk, induces me to think that nobody has ever previously collected Diptera in the Fens.
G. ASSiMiLis, Sta>g. — This little species occurred tolerably freely in a marshy spot in an old quarry near Upware.
Tachttrechus >'OTATUs,Stan. — I fancy some mistake has occurred in the 'Insecta Britannica' with regard to the localities of the Tacliy- trechi. T. notatus, which is there apparently considered the com- monest, I have captured at Aberdeen, Braemar, and Fawley.
T. coNSOBRixus, "Wlk. — This is recorded as only occiirring in Mr. Ilaliday's collection from " Moory uplands of Wicklow ;" I have, however, caught it in abundance on the muddy sides of ponds near Lyndhurst and Fawley, and also met with it one day at Braemar. The third British species, T. insir/nis, Stan., I have not yet met with, while , T. mnmohatcs, not having yet been found anywhere in Britain, is better omitted from our lists.
Oethochile nigeocjeeulea, Ltr. — I have found this rare species at Lee and Leigh.
HypopnTLLrs ceetifeh, AVlk. — I cauglit this sjjocies abundantly on stones in a stream close to Penzance, and also near Truro.
Anepsius flaviventbis, Mg. — The New Forest seems to be the chief home of this insect, as I have met with it there nearly every summer, and sometimes in abundance ; I have also a specimen from W^eybridgo.
ARaxBA COXFINIS, Zctt. — I caught a male of this at the Crystal Palace on June lith, 18G7.
SY>TonMON' Zelleri, Lw. — Two females, cfinght at Landport, near Lewes, were so named by Loew, but I consider identifications from females cnly very uncertain.
S. DE^TicULAiUs, Zctt. — 1 found this species abundant In the
14') [December,
Plashett Park, near Lewes, on August 4th, 1872, and also caught some females this spring, on April 17th, at Blackboys, near the centre of Sussex.
S. PUMiLUS, Mg. — I have collected this sparingly in the Xew Forest, at TJpware, and at Aberdeen.
S. TAKSATua, Fall. — This species abounds on Scotston Moor, near Aberdeen, and I saw it near Inverey, Braeniar.
S. (EDio'EMtTs, Lw. — "When at Eannoch, I caught sereral speci- mens of a S^ntormon, which I thought was undescribed ; and, still failing to identify it when I caught both sexes at Braemar, in some notes in the Scottish Naturalist on the Diptera at the latter place, I referred to it as being in my collection under the MS. name of 8. crassipes. A critical examination of it, with a view to description, and a comparison of the descriptions of all the European species, enabled me at last to refer it to the little-known S. cedicnemus, Lw. The following are some of its characters :—
Dark green, face narrow, more so from the middle downwards, silvery-white, palpi brown ; frons shining green ; antennse long, the third joint outside below being more than three times as long as the other two, for more than half its length it is rather broad (more than one-third its own length) , but then rather suddenly narrows to about one-third its previous widtli, running almost to a point, from which springs the stoutish arista, which is about two-thirds the length of the third joint, the joint itself bears a dense and rather long pale brownish pubescence, and the arista is distinctly, though minutely, pubescent, the first joint has one or two small bristles on its disc above, and the species must therefore belong to the genus Si/ntormon ; the cilia of the lower orbit are whitish ; the thorax is dark green, the breast -sides greyish, the pleurse pale-haired, the abdomen is coppery-green, the pubescence near its base pale, the genitalia are rounded, small, and almost concealed, the rounded knob bears pale hairs behind. The legs are yellow, front coxaj yellow with some whitish, and one (or two) black bristles, the hind coxffi dark grey, with the tips and trochanters yellow, the usual few black bristles on the middle pair, and one on the hind pair, the posterior coxse all with some wliitish hairs, front tibia3 with one bristle in front about one-third of the way down, front tarsi pale at the base, middle femora with one bristle in front and one behind near the tip, middle tibite some- times dark at the tip, with three bristles down the outside besides the apical one, and one beliind just below the first of those on the outside, one near the third, and one larger one in front near the third, middle tarsi pale on the basal lialf of tlie first joint, or sometimes all black, hind femora black at the tip, and hind tibiso all blackish except the darkish luteous base ; the femora bear one bristle behind and about three beneath near the tip, the hind tibite gradually dilate from base to tip, thev arc rather compressed from the sides, considerably bristly, with three large bristles down the outside (besides the apical) and an approach to a ciliatiou inside, the iiides arc channeled, the basal joint of the black tarsi is slightly thicker than the
1875.] ^^^'^
rcet, and slightly shorter than the second, beneath about its middle is a solitary rather long bristly-looking hair, thicker in the middle than at its base or tip, generally directed slightly backwards (i. e., towai-ds the base of the tarsus), and witli the appearance of simply hanging on, the other bristles are slightly more developed than usual, especially one or two. Wings rather greyish-hyaline, third and fourth veins only slightly approximating.
? . Face broad, greenish with pale tomentum, frons brilliant purple in the middle, steel-blue at the sides ; alula? black-haired ; cilia of the lower orbit with a tendency to form a beard ; antennae short, rounded ; belly pale haired ; legs paler, front coxfc and base of femora considerably darkened, hind trochanters blackish, hind femora slightly infuscated at the tip ; hind tibite shorter and tliinner than in the male, altogether pale, with rather numerous small bristles, even base of tarsi pale.
S. cediciiemus is therefore easily distinguished from S. tarsatus hx the absence of the conspicuously dilated tibi;c and tarsi ; fi-om pumilus by the absence of the bristles at the base of the anterior femora, and by the, simple anterior tarsi ; from Zellcri by the simple front tarsi ; from deniiculatns by the unarmed middle femora ; from Synarthrus monilis by the simj)le middle tarsi ; and from pallij^es by its dilated hind tUnce and different armature of the basal joint of the hind tarsi. The first and only description of S. cedicnemus is of the male only, in Loew's Neue Beitrage, ri, p. 15 (1859), and in this are some serious divergences from my description ; I fancy, however, they occur in Loew's description from insufficiency of material to describe from. In the first place, he calls the species a Sijnarthrus ; he, however, admits himself doubtful on the point, and I am quite sure of the presence of bristles on the upper-side of the first joint of the antenna) in my specimens; he describes all the legs as darker, but scarcely more so than in the darkest of my specimens ; and he speaks of the basal joint of the hind tarsi as"subtu8 setulis duabus divergentibus armatus." At first, I was almost inclined to think the last point conclusive against the identity of the species, but I now think Loew has unduly rated one of the more developed bristles beneath the basal joijit of the tarsi ; ho also slightly differs in describing the bristles on the middle tibiaj, besides other minor differences. lie gives no locality for *S^. cedicnemus, but leaves Germany to bo understood. I expect it is not rare in Scotland, as each of my visits there has produced it.
SYXAnxnurs moxius, Wlk. — I have cauglit this little-known species ratlier freely at Lyndhurst and Eiiigwood about the end of June. The male lias the face white, the front femora dusky above, the front tibiio with a row of small spines all the way down, the basal joint of the front tarsi pale, dark and bristly at the tip, the other joints short and bristly ; middle tarsi with the three basal joints pale.
J l^i r December.
their tips darkened ; hind tarsi all black, the tooth under the basal joint longer than in S. pallipes, and more ciliate at its end ; the front coxfie are yellow, with the base grey, the arista is slightly dorsal. In the female, the arista is conspicuously dorsal, thus readily distinguishing it from any species which has the second joint of the antennae pro- truded into the third ; it is also smaller than the male, with all the femora yellow,
XiPHANDRiUM. — Of this geuus, calif/inosum and appendiculatum seem very common ; these two and monotrichum have the frons blue in both sexes, but the black bristles on the coxa; of the last are 0, 1, 1, and in the others 2, 2, 1, thus easily distinguishing the female of monofricJium. I have only found monotrichum in the Xew Forest; hrevicorne, which I have caught at Penzance and Bournemouth, has the frons glossed with white in both sexes, and no black bristles on the coxae ; fasciatum and Jissum I have not seen, but I have found one species new to Britain, in :
X. AUCTUM, Loew, of which I caught one male at Lyndhurst on June 23rd, 1873. It is closely allied to monotrichum, but the appen- dages have not the long solitary hair, the joints of the tarsi differ slightly in relative length, it is half as large again, and in my specimen I make out the black bristles on the coxae 3, 1, 1. It has previously been recorded from Germany and Austria, but is not well recognised.
PoRPUTROPs PECTiNATUS, Lw. — I capturcd a male and two females of this near Kew in 1869 ; it is a well marked species, with a black face and beard, broad frons, front coxae with black pubescence, binstles behind front femora strong and regular, all black, the basal joint of the front tarsi neai'ly twice as long as the second joint, the hind femora yellow, with the apical fourth black, the hind tibiae yellow.
P. coxsoBRiKUs, Zctt. — In this species, the face is silvery.whitc, the beard white, the frons rather narrow, the front coxae with white pubescence, and the bristles on the front femora less strong and regular than in pectinatus, and with some pale hairs intermixed behind ; the basal joint of the front tarsi is stout and slightly longer than the second, the other three short, the second is a little bent, and thick at the base, with minute erect hairs beneath, the middle femora are thin with fine pale pubescence beneath, the hind femora are all black, the tibia? dusky, blackish at tip ; tarsi much shorter in proportion than in pectinatus. The female differs from that of peciinatus by the duller yellow, nari'ower face and frons, and white beard.
(To be contiiiuedj.
1875.] 149
NOTES OX ANISOTOMIDM, WITH DESCRIPTIONS OF THREE NEW
SPECIES (feom SCOTLAND, SIBERIA, and ALGIERS) .—No. 2.
icf. Ent. Mo. Mag., x, pp. 131—136.]
BY E. C. EYE, F.Z.S.
A:?rrsoTOMA oblonga, ?, Erictson, Ins. DeutscliL, iii, p. 53, note;
E. C. Eye, Ent. Mo. Mag., vii, p. ISO ; id. Ent. Annual, 1872,
p. G5.
Since my record of tlie two British examples above quoted (one of which was returned to me by Dr. Kraatz as probably this species), I have seen a third specimen, taken in the Manchester district. These three arc, as was Erichson's insect, of the female sex; they agree perfectly with each other, and with Erichson's description, with the additional character that the larger punctures on the 1st, 3rd, 5th, and 7th interstices of the elytra are, compai*ed with A. cinnamomea, much coax'ser and more numerous. I have recently examined a fourth specimen, taken at Earnham, Surrey, in September last, by Mr. G. C. Champion, which is of the male sex, and is in my opinion undoubtedly also to be referred to A. ohJonga, of which the ^ has not yet been described. This individual, like the three ? examined, differs from cinnamomea in its smaller size, more elliptical outline, and shorter antenna;, of which the club is lighter; in its thorax having less strongly rounded sides, with more obsolete front- and less obtuse hind-angles ; and shorter and proportionally broader elytra, with interstitial punc- tures as above noted. Erichson's suggestion that the ^ may be still more easily separable than the $ from cinnamomea is correct. I add the male characters : —
Mas, tarsis aniicis mcdiisque leviter dilatatis ; femorihus posticis apiccm versus furtitcr dilatatis, a j)ic.e suhfusj^rq/'unde lateque emarginato (angulis ohtusis, nee denticulatis) ; tihils j)osticis pauIo elongatis incur- vafisque, haud incrassatis.
Compared with ^ cinnamomea, the middle tibia? are not abru[)tly dilated and incurved in the lower half, but merely a trifle stouter than in the ? ; the hind femora are more dilated towards the apex, but the angles of the apical emargination on the lower side are not only not (lent iriiliitcd, liiit dir^tiiictly rouii(h'(l (iff, Dure being no it)otli of any kind to the femur, the lower edge of which is simply irregular in outline ; and the hind tibia; are less elongate, and less thickened and incurvate towards the apex. Erichson says that the middle tibiae of cinnamomea have a sharp tooth on the inner side near the base, but I find no such tooth in my largest and most highly developed example of that species ; he probably mistook the toothed and projecting apex of
250 I necembcr,
the troclianter for this. The middle trochanters are not produced or spincd iu the 5 ohlonr/a now being described ; and its hind trochanter^* are, compared with cinnamomea of equal size, much less projecting and sharp.
Th(! entire absence of any apical angular tooth in the hind femora at once distinguishes this species fi-om A. rjr'andis, ^ .
Apart from other points, there can here be no question of the species being founded on a minor degree of development, as one character of A. ohlonr/a, viz., the dilatation of the hind femora, is actually in excess of the same structure in even larger cinnamomea.
Anisotoma cueta, Eairmaire, Taune Ent. Fran9., Col., i, p. 315.
This fine species must be added to the British list. I have ex- amined two specimens (which have been corroborated by M. Ch, Brisout), one, a well-developed ^, from Dr. J. A. Power's collection, taken by the Rev. J. Landy Brown, of Norwich (I presume, near that city), and the other by Mr. Champion at Esher, in September, 1873. The species was originally described from a single ^ example, taken near Paris ; but M. Brisout informs me that it is very common in winter on the sandy coasts of Normandy, and that he has also found it in sandy woods near Paris. Evening sweeping at Deal will probably, therefore, produce more British specimens. It is in the same section as A. dubia, equalling the largest examples of that species in size (If lin.), from which it may be distinguished by its rather longer build, the much stronger punctuation of its thorax, the sides of which are more contracted behind, the finer and closer punctuation of the striro of its elytra, and by the apical joint of its antenna? being distinctly not so wide as the penultimate joint. The (J characters are much as in diihict, except that the hind tibiae are not so elongated and are not biai'ciiate. Fairmaire specifics the very fine punctuation of the interstices of the elytra as a diagnostic character, but there appears no difference between curta and dubia in this respect.
Anisotoma clavicornis, sp. n.
OvaJis, convexa,fern(ginco-tcstacea, iliornce minus crehre jyunctulato, hasi truncaio ; eli/tris sat t/rosse hand profunde j^ii'ndato-sfriatis, inter- stitiis evidenter punctulatis, jyunctis nonnullis majoribus qxioq^iie inipressis, post ice sat ahrupte contract is; tibiis anticis apicem versiis modice dilatatis, hand linearibus ; antennis brevibus, thoracis medium hand superaniibus, articulo 3" qnam 1'^ paulo longiori, 4" — G" gradatim latiorihus, transversis, clava concolori, gradatim latiori, articulis 2 penultimis vaJdc transversis, ultimo dilutiori, magno, pr<Ecedcnti latitudine cequali, gJoboso-acuminato.
Habitat Scotiam. _ Long. 1\ lin. (Anglic).
iWis hitct.
1875.] _ 151
A single epccimen, in Dr. Sharp's collection ; taken in flood-refuse on the banks of the jS^ith, near Thoruhill, Dumfries, October, 1873.
The structure of the antennae at once distinguishes this species from all others known to me. These organs are very short (suggestive of Cijrtusa), gradnally widened towards the apex, with the 4'th, 5th, and (;th joints nnusually small, and the apical joint, though shoi't, as wide as the two jirecedijig (which are very transverse), and forming a capitulum larger than in A. ovalis.
The tliorax is evenly rounded at the sides, and almost truncate in front, with the anterior angles much rounded off; its surface is deli- cately and not very closely punctulated ; the elytra are coarsely, but not very deeply, punctate-striate, the punctures being not so sharply defined as, but larger than, in A. dubia.
AXISOTOMA BAICALENSIS, sp. n.
Oblonffo-ovalis,- modice convexa, ferruginea ; antennarum clavd viagnd, concolori, articulo apicali prcecedentihus angustiori ; prothorace vix transversa, hasi truncato, antrorsum angustato, laterihus hnud ro- tundali-s, creljre fortiter punctato ; elijtris punctato-striatis, interstitiis, vage sulfilittrque transversim strigosis ; tlhiis anticis Unearihus.
Long. 1\ lin. (Anglic). Halitat Lake Baikal, S. E. Siberia.
Mas latet.
A single ? specimen, from Dr. Sharp's collection.
This species may be briefly described as the equivalent to A. rugosa, in the section with linear front tibiae. Apart from the tibial character, it differs from rugosa in its rather smaller size and more oblong form, unicolorous antennal club, longer and more strongly punctured thorax, of which the sides are not dilated, but contracted in almost a straight line from the base to the apex (the hinder angles, though obtuse at the point, being almost rectangular), in the punctures of the stria; of its elytra being not quite so closely packed, and the transverse strigosities of the interstices also not so close, the whole surface being more shining.
Prom J. lij/hrida, it may be at once known by its shorter form, flatter build, lighter colour, more strongly punctured thorax, coarser stritc, &(.-.
The elytral punctuatioii in this species is quite unlike lliat of A. mullipunctata and circinipes, mihi, from .lapaii ; and A. Jatcriiia, Mann., from Sitkha, differs at once from it in its transverse thorax, dark club, &c.
AXISOTOMA ALOiniCA, Sp. 71.
Oblong 0-0 V alls, fvrrugineo-testacen ; antennarum clavd tcnui, con- colori, articulo apicali p>^'occedentibus latitudine cctjuali ; thorace crcbre
252 [December,
vix visihiliter punctulato, hasi tnincato ; elytris concinne haud profunde ^nmctato-striatis, interstltils parce ohsoletissimeque punctulatis ; tibiis anticis linearihus. Long. 1 lin. (Anglic).
Jifas,Jemoyibus posticis dilatatis, apice suhtus acute denticulato.
Sahitat Algeriam.
Somewhat similar to a very small pale specimen o£ A. calcarata, from which the apical joint of its antenna? being equal in width to the penultimate joint, its more slender club, more obsoletely punctured thorax, of which the base is not sinuate, &c., will readily distinguish it. From A. scita, which it apparently most I'esembles, it differs in the nhape of the thorax, of which the sides are evenly rounded to and from the middle (instead of being straight to the middle and then con- tracted in front), its less deeply punctured stri», and the under angle of the femoral dilatation in the ^ not being rounded off. This latter character alone will suffice to distinguish it from the smallest and most feebly developed duhia or ovalis.
Taken by Mr. Eippon in Algiers.
Anisotoma lituka, Stephens (ornata, Fairm.), var. viacuUcolUs.
A specimen from Algiers, in Dr. Sharp's collection, exhibits such extraordinary coloration, that I have given it the above name. It is a very large and broad female, with the dark sutural stria? and lateral streaks more deeply marked than in any Scotch example (I have taken many of this species in the South, but they are always of the pale form), and with wide suffused testaceous lateral margins to the thorax, leaving the centre only broadly black.
In my most highly coloured Scotch specimens, there is, at most, a small testaceous portion at the hinder angles.
The ordinary pale form of A. litura is in Dr. Sharp's collection from Bigorre, and Hydnohius strigosus from Algiers ; Ci/rfiisa pauxilla and CoJenis deniipes from Eeynosa (Spain), the latter also from Bigorre and Albertville ; and Anisotoma paUens and Triartliron Mecrkeli from Albertville. ITnusually large specimens of T. Mcerkeli have been taken in the New Forest by Mr. Oliver Janson, and Mr. E. Saunders and Mr. Champion have also found this rare species at Woking. Anisotoma macropus, mihi, has again occurred to Mr. Champion at Esher, and at Balcombe, near Tilgate Forest, by sweeping in August under fir-trees ; Mr. Marsh has taken A. hrunnea flying at Mickleham, in September ; and A. lunicollis, mihi, has come under my notice from different quarters, — viz., one specimen detected by me in Dr. Power's collection, taken many years ago near the Kibble, Lanca- shire ; two old specimens in Mr. Gr. R. Waterhouse's collection ; and another, taken in June last at Forest Hill, by Mr. Marsh.
• Parkficld, PutneT :
October, 1875. •
!ST51 158
NOTES ON BUTTEKFLIES FROM BOLIVIA, WITH DESCEIPTIONS OF TWO NEW SPECIES.
BY AV. C. HEAVITSOJf, F.L.S.
I received, some time since, -wliat lie calls a small collection (800 butterflies) from Mr. Buckley, from Bolivia, and as I do not intend to describe tbc new species (about 30) until tlie next arrival, with the exception of those now sent, I propose to give a very short summary of its contents. Amongst the new species is a Morplio of the Aiito- viedon group, a new and large Pier is, several new Itliomice and Ery- cinidce ; and, amongst those previously known, and quite as interesting to myself, he sends Muiyho Ijjhiclus of Felder, which he was compelled to shoot from the high trees ; a fine series, and in great perfection, of the hitherto rare Junonia jucunda,t\iG very beautiful Aijatuy^a Lavinia, and the remarkable Pandemos Areuta, figured in the " Genera." He sends, too, an abundance of Morplio Aurora, and further examples of Morplio Godarti, which were the pride of his former collection.
PaPILIO XtNIAS, Sp. 11.
Upper-side : male, dark brown. Anterior wing w'ith a large pale green bifid square spot on the middle of the inner margin. Posterior wing dentate, with a short linear tail in continuation of the third median nervure : three (sometimes one or two only) oval carmine spots between the inner margin and the third median nervure: a sub-marginal series of four narrow lunular green spots.
Under-side : as aboA^c, except that there is a carmine spot at the base of the anterior wing, and three similar spots at the base of the posterior wing, and that there are five carmine spots on the posterior wing, and nearer the outer margin. Exp., Si^o inch.
Near to Euryhon and Xeniades ; nearest probably to Harmodius.
Prepona Xenagokas, sp. n.
Upper-side : male, dark brown. Both wings crossed at the middle by a broad purple band, and by a sub-marginal scries of orange spots, two of which, on the posterior wing, are in the form of black ocelli bordered with orange, and placed near the apex and anal angle.
Under-side : rufous-brown. Both wings crossed before the middle by two bands of silvery-white bordered with black. Anterior wing crossed beyond the middle by a zig-zag black band. Posterior wing with the two ocelli of the u[)pcr-sid(', but of a brilliant blue with white pupil, and iris half-orange, half-white: the space between them and the band irrorated with white. Exp., 3 m, inch.
Upper-side of JDeiphile, under-side (with very little difference) of Gnorima.
Oatliincl.i, Wi'ybridgc : Ocfoher, 1875.
X545 [December
BRITISH nUIIirTEEA — BESC'RirTIO'S OF SERIEUS PICIPES, A NEW BRITISH SPECIES.
BY EDWAED SAUNDERS, F.L.S. SeIIIEUS PICIPES.
Gydnus iiicipes, FiilL, Mon. Cim., 51, 4 ; Hem. Suec, i, 20, 5. Gnatlioconus costalis, Fieb., Eur. Ilem., 3GG, 2.
I am glad to be able to add this to our list of British Hemiptera ; it is closely allied to 8. alhomarcjinatus, Fab., with wbicb it is not im- probably mixed in some collections. Dr. Power, the other evening, shewed me a few specimens found in the neighbourhood of Esher and Wcybridge, by himself, which he had j^ut aside as distinct from S. alhomarcjinatus, and from one of them I make the following diagnosis : —
Black, shining, deeply and rugosely punctured. Head scarcely notched in front, extreme lateral margin of the elytra to a little below the middle, ochreous-brown ; membrane milky-white. Antennje with the apical joint scarcely longer than the 3rd ; legs black, tarsi paler.
Length 2 lin.
Distinct from 8. alhomarfjinatus by the narrow and darker margin to the elytra, the pale colour of which does not extend on to the corium adjoining, and is only A'isible on the basal half ; also by the much less notched head, the shorter apical joint of the antennae, and the pale membrane.
2, Spencer Park, Wanclswortli : November 4th, 1875.
[I find that I have this species among some unexamined examples taken many years ago by Mr. AV^ollastou at Mablethorpe, Lincoln- shire.—J. W. D.]
BRITISH IIEM1PTEEA—A.TS ADDITIONAL SPECIES. BY J. W. DOUGLAS.
Xabis RUGOSUS. Cimex riigosus, Lin., F. S., 2-16, 916 (1761). NaUs dorsalis, Duf., Kech., 62, 1, t. 5, fig. 55 (1833). JVabis Irevis, Scholz, Arb. u. Veriind., 112, 2 (1847) ; Fieb., Eur. Hem., 160, 3 (1861). Nahis fuminervis, Dahlb., Yet. Ak. Handl., 22-1 (1851). Xahis rucfosus, Eeut., Of v. Yet. Ak. Forhand., 71, 6 (1872). Nahis rugosa, Muls. and Eey, Pun. Fr., iv, 96, 6 (1873).
Pale testaceous. Head with a broad, fuscous-blact, outwardly bi-dentato vitta extending from the red ocelli to the base of the middle lobe of the face, outwardly
[i?75. 155
margined by a deep black line ; the prominent middle lobe margined by a lilaek line; tlie sides of the head before and behind the prominent black eyes, broadly fuscous. Rostrum testaceous with a black line outside. AntenncB testaceous, 1st joint with a fine black line on the inner side, 2nd black at the extreme base, the apex, and the 3rd and Ith joints, wholly fuscous -black.
Pronotum long- trapezoidal, anteriorly annuliform ; the middle portion long, convex ; the posterior tliird on its front somewhat depressed, then slightly convex transversely ; down the middle tliroughout is a fuscous vitta which, on the middle portion only, is widened and has a fine yellow line down its centre, the exterior being sharjily defined by a fine deep black straight line which begins and ends with a black dot ; from the lower end a thin black line curves upwards and outwards, and defines a conspicuous pale spot, and, generally, another similar, but darker, one exterior to the first, thus forming a figure somewhat like oo : and sometimes the whole of the middle portion of the disc is also enclosed within a continuous, irregidarly angulatcd, delicate black line : the short anterior annulus has also a rather broad fuscous vitta close to the sides, and the posterior portion a similar vitta (sometimes two) between the middle one and the posterior angles. Scutellum black, with a long comma-shaped pale spot on each side of the middle, but leaving the small basal angles black. lElj/tra as long as the abdomen in the ^ , scarcely so long in the $ ; davits more or less iiifuscated ; corium long, nerves prominent, pale, margined more or less with fuscous ; on the 1st, beyond the middle, a long black spot, another at the posterior junction of the 1st and 2nd nciTcs, and a third, smaller, on the membrane-suture : membrane short, pale, with broad fuscous nerves. Wings (in my examples) rudimentary. Sternum black in the middle. Legs testaceous ; thighs, on the sides, with black dots in rows, the first pair, outwardly, having also transverse brown lines ; joints of the tarsi at the extreme apex, and the claws, black.
Abdomen, above, reddish-fuscous, the conncxivum pale, with a basal pale red streak ; beneath, clothed with fine whitish pubescence, a middle line and the sides broadly fuscous-black. Length, 3— 3i lines.
In colour like iV. ferus, but broader, shorter, elytra not so long, antenna) much longer, &c.
Distinguished from N. ericetoriim by the pale testaceous colour, the broader form, the conspicuous light nerves of the corium, the slightly longer antenna;, &c., and the different habitat. According to Kcuter's figure, there is also a slight difference in the form of the Jiamus of the genitalia of the male.
I have only recently found this species among herbaceous plants at Lee and Darenth Wood, but I have no doubt it is generally distri- buted. I have never found it among heath, Avhere only JV. cricctorum plentifully occurs.
In tlie "British IIcmi[)t(i'a," N. ericetornm, Scholz, was described, following Fieber's suggestion, under the prior nwraa N. dor salt >i, Diif. ; but, as it has since aj)peared th;it there are two distiiict species indi- cated by these names, and dorsnlis (which Renter, I. c, has given valid reasons for considering to be Cimcx rur/osus, Lin.) is I]ritish, it is necessary now to describe it.
Lee : \sl November, 1875.
25G [December,
Notes nn inseds at f^t. Hidona. — Tlic following brief notes of the entomological results of six weeks' stay in this island may not be uninteresting. Mrs. WoUaston and I arc staying at Plantation House, some ISOO feet above the sea, and commanding, ■within an easy ride of an hour and a half (on the back of either a pony or donkey), the uncultivated district, still covered with cabbage-trees and tree-ferns, of the great central ridge. This is so generally covered in with cloud, that even now it is almobt impossible to reach it more than about tAvo days in each week.
Our object being exclusively to investigate the Fauna of St. Helena, we shall probably remain on until at least the middle of December, and then make for Madeira. As might be expected in such an isolated spot (some 1,200 miles from the nearest continental land), species are decidedly scarce, and the gaps prodigious, — ■whole families (almost universal) being totally unrepresented. Yet the fauna is precisely what I felt sure it would be {i. e., so far as the Coleoptera are concerned) ; variations of some half-dozen forms occurring, which are so monstrously developed that we never ride up to the cabbage-tree ridge without getting new ones. This (from the few eccentric species which had been sent home from time to time) I always anticipated would be the case, — MicroxyloMus (of the CossonidceJ reigning supreme, followed by Notioxenus and Honiceodera of the Anthrihidce, and Nesiotes of the Synaptonychidce ; all of them Rhyncfinphora. A few anomalous little creatures of other groups have of course turned up, but they are quite the exception, — such as a diminutive Trechus scarcely larger than a Meligethes, two or three minute Bembidia; and in Hyme:ioptera a small creature, apparently unable to fly, which has its wings of a velvety consistency, the hinder pair being reduced to narrow strips, or filaments, whilst the front ones arc not only large and carried erect over its thorax, but pedunculated at the base, and formed towards the apex into complete sx>oons (deep, regular, and concave). It is altogether a wonderful insect, and resides in the wet moss which pads the faces (at a high altitude) of perpendicular rocks. A few cm-ious looking bugs have also come to light in the centi-al districts, including a beautiful genus allied to Salda. The Lepidoptera are the special depart- ment of Mrs. WoUaston, and I do not attempt to touch them ; but I think she has obtained at least 60 species already, — chiefly Pyralidw and Tineina. Of butterflies there seem to be only four sjiecies, — the common Cynthia cardui, L. bcetica, a big Danais (found also at the Canaries and Cape Verde), and a large black and white tropical form. At any rate, in loth orders we have exceeded (in point of number) Mr. Melliss' list, which is at least hopeful, liis lately published catalogue being the rcsidt of many years' collecting in the island. My number of species hitherto does not exceed about 130, and I am doubtful whether I shall bring it up above 200 before we go. — T. V. Wollaston, Plantation House, St. Helena : October 19th, 1875.
On the cnptwe o/ a South American wasp (Polistes bipustxilatus, Saussure) near Liverpool. — During an excursion of the Liverpool Naturalists' Field Club la«t summer, a specimen of Polistes bipustulatus was found by Mr. W. H. Mountficld about eight miles from Liverpool, near Ince Blundell, a locality about a mile from the nearest shore, and quite away from all houses and docks. The insect was caught in a dry sandy situation, and, although the species is imdoubtcdly an importation, the question arises as to the possibility of the specimen caught being one of a brood developed in this country. The nests of Polistes are exposed, consisting of a single comb,
1375.] l.')?
wliioli is circular, varying in diameter, in the dilTerent species, from nl)()ut four to B&ven or eight inches ; they are attached to all kinds of substances, — branches of trees, posts and rails, Trindow-frames and cornices of rooms, and frequently they are found attached to stones : in fact, their situations are innumerable. An allied species to P. bipustulatus was taken at Penzance by the late Miss Carne, who observed some numbers of it during two seasons ; but she ascertained that they came from Brazil,! on ships laden with raw hides. The same species was also found in London, in docks I and dock warehouses ; and specimens were sent to me taken at Liverpool in a wool I waruhouse. Accounts of these captures appeared in the Entomologist's Annual for 18(j8 and 18G9. — Feedk. Smith, British Museum : October, 1875.
Xote on the habitat of Typhlocyla aurovittata. — When I described this species (p. 7G ante), I was unable to say precisely from what tree or plant I had taken it, but, recently, at the same place where I made the original capture, I have traced the species to the oak, having beaten examples from oak-bushes growing in the hedges, and from them only. Fieber gives " Anglia " as the country from which he had the species, and I believe it was one of my original examples he had before him when he proposed the name " aurovittata." — J. W. Douglas, Lee : 22nd Oct., 1875.
Sphinx convolvuli and Dianthacia albimacula at Folkestone. — Sphinx convulvuli has been unusually abundant this year. One man brought me five in a box, that he had just caught in Ins hand over a bed of petunias during a shower of rain. He said he had caught ten in all.
Dianihacia albimacula too has been abundant ; I am surprised not to have seen notices of its capture. I fear it has got into the hands of the dealers. But a large number have been caught, I believe, at Folkestone. My friend IVIr. Blaekall took six in half-an-hour one evening. But we only discovered the locality when it was getting too late. Nightly visits had been evidently paid for a long time past to the spot. — IIexey L'llyett, Folkestone : 'November, 1875.
On the habits, c^-c, of the larvae of Eupithecia togata. — On September 0th, Sir Thomas Monereiffe, Mr. Wm. Herd, and I started for a locality where Evp. togata has occurred tolerably freely, with a resolute determination not to return home till we had found the larva and made ourselves thoroughly acquainted with its food- plant and habits.
The perfect insect always occurs in the neighbourhood of spruce-fir trees; to the spruces therefore we directed our attention. Long did we carefully scan the twigs. Diligently did we beat the boughs, but all in vain. " Bother the larvo)," wo all exclaimed. We stood together racking our brains and staring up into the tall spruces. " I've got it," we almost simultaneously cried out, " they arc in the cones." " I'll go up," said Mr. Herd, and up he went, and soon began to pelt us with cones ; amongst them were several from which a copious quantity of fresh frass was pro- truding. These were quickly laid open with a sharp knife, and very soon a lively fat pinkish looking larva, very like a miniature Cossns ligniperda, was disclosed to view, which I at once recognized to be Evp. togata from a beautiful drawing which Mr. Buckler executed for me several years ago, from a larva reared on young shoots of spruce, from eggs laid by a captured female. A further search revealed sundry other lai-vte; in one fresh fallen cone we found no less than seven of various sizes : they feed between the scales of the cone upon the ripe seed at the base.
X58 ' December,
The larva is of a uniform dull pink, more or less clouded and spotted with black on the dorsal segments. Some of the younger and smaller specimens were very dingy ; the head is black, with two small white dots at the base ; on the neck arc two conspicuous black dots. When full-fed, it quits the cone and spins a slight cocoon on the surface of the earth. The pupa is bright red and resembles that of Utip. suhfulvata. Another somewhat similarly coloured larva, apparently a Tortrix, feeds inside the cones, in company with that of Hup. togata. Sir Thos. Moncreiffo believes it to be A. strolilella. — H. Haeptjr Cbetve, Drayton-Bcauchamp Rectory, Tring : November 1st, 1875.
On Ehiilea stacliydalis, a Pyralis new to Britain. — In the third week in June last, while collecting at a short distance from this to^vn, I disturbed, from a dense mass of bushes and herbage, a Pt/ralis which appeared to be a very dark variety of JEhulea .<iamhucalis, and was accordingly boxed. Being much occupied at the time with local Tortrices, I paid little attention to this specimen, and it was not until it had been removed from the setting-board and compared with continental types that I recognised it as Ebulea stacliydalis — a species not previously recorded in this country.
On further search I found that a Stacliys (S. arvensis, I think) was growing Ivixuriantly on the spot, and from this another specimen was disturbed, which, after settling a moment (out of "aggravation " of course), disappeared in a thick mass of brambles, and was no more seen ; nor could I by any amount of subsequent labour procure a second specimen.
My friend Mr. Stainton has favored me with an extract from the Stettin, ent. Zeitung, by the late Herr Metzner of Frankfort-on-the-Oder, which not only points out the distinctive characters of the species, but also gives its history, and is there- fore interesting.
Stett. e. Z., 1846, p. 242, Botys stachydalis, Zincken : — " Treitschke mentions, " in the 7th volume of his work, p. 85, an undescribed Botys stachydalis, coming " near to samhucalis, of which he reserves the description for the Supplement. Tliis " intention was not, however, carried out, since, in the 10th volume of his work, he " is quite silent respecting stachydalis. I find that this species has already bceii " mentioned, whicli probably led Treitschke to hope that he should loarn to know it. " It is in Charpentier's remarks on the Micro-Lepidoptera of the Wiener Verzeiclmiss, " p. 15, wlicrc Zincken says, in note 23, ' with stachydalis, mihi, a species of Fyrali.^ " ' discovered by mc on Stachys sylvatica.'
'• But since then this stachydalis has been lost sight of; and in the printed " catalogue of Treitschke's collection it is not mentioned, which proves that he had " not learned to know it. But we fiiid in this catalogue a Parietarialis, Mann, " introduced immediately after samhucalis. This species, probably taken by Mann "of Vienna on Parietaria ojfflcinaH.i, if not found as a larva, was largely distributed " by the industrious discoverer under this somewhat lengthy name. It had also " reached Duponchel, in whose latest work, ' Catalogue des Lepidopteres d'Europe,' " Paris, 1816, it is introduced in the genus Botys at p. 207, but as Parietarialis, " Tarreyss, and as a variety of samhucalis. * * * * This Parietarialis is just that " stachydalis, and according to all law and right ^he older name must be adopted.
1875. . 159
" hence I communicate here vihat I know about it, and give the Rpeoiiie charactovs in "order to call the attention of collectors to a species -whicli is probably not scarce " througliout Germany.
" Slacfii/dalis (or ParietariaUs, !^^ann, under which name I have received speci- "mens of it from Vienna) is described and figured by Zineken in the little known " Ahrcn's Fauna, Heft. 4, No. 18. The figure is very bad, with the wings too broad, " the hind wings round, and the spots have become brown. In order not to copy " the Latin description, which is probably intelligible to few, I give the translation : —
"Wings bent downwards, brown, the anterior with two, the posterior with " three, yellowish spots. Brunswick (Museum Zinckeu). Very closely allied to " sambucalis, W. V., which it resembles, but it is smaller, and differs in the " anterior wings having two, and not three, spots. The sixteen-footed larva is thick, " wrinkled, naked, rather clear white ; it occurs near ' Brunswick in united leaves of " Stachi/s ,11/1 cat ica.'
" Zineken here lays proper stress on the principal differences, on which, however, " something has to be remarked. Stachydalis is only generally smaller, exceptional "specimens oi sambucalis are quite as small,' consequently there remains, as a certain " and constant character, only the number of spots. For instance, sambucalis has a " large, yellowish, quadrangular spot on the disc, and a still larger rounded spot in " the elbow of the second transverse line ; besides, there is, as a third spot, a pale "yellowish triangle which lies beneath the quadrangular spot between the two first " branches of the median nervure, and forms a sort of connecting link between the " two large spots. When the central portion of the wing is richly dusted with "yellow towards the inner margin this small triangle. is less distinctly apparent, but " it is alivays present, and on the under-side it participates in the violet gloss of the " other spots, which gloss never extends fui'ther towards the inner margin. This "small triangle is entirely wanting in stachydalis on both sides, and thereby tho " two species can always be recognised. A further difference is presented by the "greater breadth and shortness of the wings in stachydalis ; besides, this has the "spots smaller, brighter yellow, less yellow dusting, and therefore a darker appear- " ance. It also appears to be a constant character that stachydalis, on the inner " edge of the quadrangidar spot, has a yellow dot separated from it by a narrow "dark brown stripe. Sambucalis, it is true, also shows a small yellow spot towards " the base, but it lies within the first transverse line (whereas in stachydalis it is " beyond it), and is thus far removed from the quadrangular spot. Finally, sambu- " calis ha.s, in the g , very fine dentations on the under-side of tho antenna;, which "are distinctly visible with a lens; these are wanting in the <? stachydalis, " and are replaced by microscopic, but distinct, pubescence."
I have introduced this long extract because it goes very carefully into tho dis- tinctive characters. It, however, omits one which is mentioned by Ileiiiemaim in his description — " tho more strongly waved hind margin, and more acute apex of anterior wings in stachydalis." All these characters I find to agree, except that tho Bpots in my specimen are very palo ; and there is still an omission : — in stachydalis the row of yellow dots which lies outside tho second transverse lino is not dilated below tho costa as in sambucalis, nor is the line itself so deeply bent.
I may add that I have already discovered a specimen of stachydalis among some old British sambucalis, and feel little doubt it exists mixed with that species ill other collections. — CuAS. Q. Bakuett, I'cnibroko : 8tb Xovember, 1875.
100 [December,
On the larva and habU.i of Paraponi/x stratiotalis. — It gives me great pleasure to acknowleclgo -with sincere thanks my obligation to Mr. W. C. Boyd, of Cheshunt, for all the trouble he has so kindly taken to furnish me with examples of this curious subaqueous larva, until I have been able to observe its habits -with some degree of completeness.
On June 10th, 1872, he sent me, in wet moss in a tin box, by post, two cocoons and three larvae ; one of the latter, having died, was submitted to Dr. T. A. Chapman, who examined its structure under the microscope, and very kindly took considerable trouble in making pen and ink sketches of several portions of it — to my great assis- tance in making it out.
The other examples I figured and described, but was baffled at that lime in fully observing their habits by (as I believe) the carnivorous propensities of sundry leeches and other interlopers, that gained admittance among the leaves of the Anacharis alsinastrum — ^one of the plants on which stratiotalis feeds ; for by the end of the year not a trace of cocoons or larvtB could be found.
However, on July 21st, 1874, Mr. Boyd was able to send me, by railway, several cocoons and larv£e, as well as a good supply of food, and witli these, having taken more pains, I have been more successful, — carefully removing from their habitat aU creatures that could do them harm, and always straining the water supplied from time to time to make good what had been lost by evaporation.
Before giving a detailed account of my observations, I had better describe the larva, because the peculiarities of its structure wiU account for the most curious of its habits.
The larva when full-grown is from six-eighths to seven-eighths incli in length, of cylindrical figure, though tapered a little on the four anterior segments, the head being rather the smallest, and the two hinder segments also a little tapered ; the anterior and anal legs very well developed, the ventral ones moderately so ; the skin is soft and smooth, and furnished with eight rows of flexible branchiae* composed of tufts of six or less slender flesliy filaments of unequal length tapering to rather fine points, and all radiating from a short thick basal stem, and occupying' the positions of the usual warts or spots seen so distinctly in an Agrotis larva, otherwise, to the unassisted eye, they remind one of the spines of some butterfly laiTae. In colour the semi-translucent body is of a very pale tint of olivc-ochreous or of whitish- ochrcous, generally more or less tinged with olive, and marked with a few small purplish freckles ; the alimentary canal is conspicuous, showing through the skin as a broad dorsal stripe of dark grey, or brownish or greenish-grey ; the whitish traeheao can also be partially seen through the skin on each side ; the pale brown head has the lobes delicately outlined with dark brown, the mouth and occUi blackish-brown ; the branchiae dirty whitish-grey ; the spiracles exceedingly small and black, each being situated on the flat centre of a swelling eminence; a small wart-like tubercle near the base of the ventral legs bears a single hair-like filanu'nt.
On putting the second supply of the larrtc, &c., with the weed, into a glass globe
* That these are rightly so called, and that they are connected with the respiratory system, I had a. good proof while changing the water of the two first larva; I received : when I put them for a minute or two into a glass of spring water just drawn from a filter, iinincdiately thore appeared a small silvery air bubble at the extreme point of each filament, but when the larvse were returned to the fresh river water these air biibbles soon disappeared. I did not try to make them appear again, as 1 feared the experiment mightfce detrimental to the health of the larvse.
-w. n.
1875.] 161
of water, I found amongst them a cylindrical case formed witli pieces of Butomus umbellafiis, about an inch and a half long, and half-an-inch in diameter, no doubt originally constructed by a very different aquatic larva, though now tenanted by a laiTa of stratiotalis ; this, on looking at it three hours afterwards, at night, I saw had been deserted ; the next morning I found it again in possession of one of the larvfp, when, for better obserFation, I transferred it with the larva to a wide-mouthed bottle of water and a spray or two of the food-plant ; I also placed four others of the larvre, separately, with pieces of the weed, into as many similar bottles of water : in course of the same evening I saw that the individual in the case had contrived to sink its abode to the bottom of the bottle, and had fixed it there in a nearly perpen- dicular position, by spinning a quantity of silken threads to the end of a stem of the food-plant, already made fast by similar means to the side and bottom of the bottle ; tliis case had previously been floating on the surface of the water, both when empty and when a larva was inside. Another larva that had its bottle supplied with a longer spray bent double, began at once to spin a quantity of silk to the bent part of the stem, and to the side and bottom of the bottle, thus forming a kind of silken tent open at one side, and through this opening I was able to observe all its move- ments from time to time. Another spun for itself a sloping wall or screen of silk, from the side to the middle of the bottom of the bottle, enclosing two pieces of the water-weed fixed witliin it ; tliis was also open at one end. Another spun two stems to the side of its bottle in nearly a vertical position, about half-an-inch apart, and spread its web from one stem to tlie other, and upon the glass of the sides of the bottle, leaving an opening below half-an-inch from the bottom of the water, the top of the web being about the same distance from the top of the water ; this larva continued to live in a position perpendicular to the bottom of the bottle, and even- tually drew the stems of its food closer together, and spun itself up in a cocoon between them on July 25th.
The fifth larva, which was smaller than the others, spun a squarish web for itself in the midst of three pieces of the water-weed, and, when other pieces were supplied, spun a fresh web amongst them.
I soon found that these larva; in the bottles, as well as those in the globe, pre- ferred to live at some depth in the water, not one of them choosing to reside at the surface ; each larva in tlie globe- spun a web for itself, either a kind of open tent or a short gallery, aiid the form varied with its surrounding circumstances, but it was invariably fastened to the food-plant, and occasionally to tlie glass also : one larva, I noticed, often cut off leaves from the stem of its food, and tlien attached them to tlie silken wall of its dwelling.
I now come to mention the peculiar habit of this larva which I watched with extreme interest during many months.
Kight and day, at intervals varying from one to three minutes apart, the larva, liolding to its web by the anal legs, rapidly undidates its body upwards and forwards with considerable vigour and energy, while the three hinder segments appear motion- less ; this intermittent movement lasts al)Out twenty-one seconds at a time, and is followed by a period of rest— longer, tliat is for two or three minutes — when the larva is quiet, and shorter when it is fei'ding, at such times not exceeding one miiuite. U hat this energetic uiuUilat ion is connected witli tlie respiration of the larva is evident
\Q2, [December,
from the fact that the brancliial filaments are then all in strong action, for, instead of radiating as they do in repose, they become depressed a little, and point forwards in the direction of the head.
As to their method of feeding, I noticed that the smaller larvce ate only the green cuticle from the leaves, thus bleaching them ; but the larger ones ate completely through the leaves, cutting out circular pieces : when frass was ejected, the dark alimentary canal was seen suddenly to lose its contents as far back as the beginning of the tliird segment from the anal extremity (that is the eleventh segment counting in the usual way), and to discharge them with such great velocity that the frass was carried about an inch outside the opening of the silken residence, the larva having first moved backwards to the opening, and afterwards retiring within to its former place. I found in each of the above-mentioned bottles, every morning, at the same distance from the web, an accumulation of rejectamenta consisting of small ovate particles of olive-greenish vegetable debris, little changed in colour from that of the plant : in one instance, after cleaning out this accumulation, and supplying fresh water with no apparent disturbance to the larva, I found, at the end of twenty-four hours, it had expelled twenty-six pellets of frass.
On September 10th, 1874, I had the great satisfaction of breeding one moth from a larva that had spun up in a bottle ; but I got out no more, for, although I had then and previously so many other pupse, yet they, like most of the larvae, seemed standing over for another season ; indeed, two larvse were not much more than half- grown by the 5th October ; up to that date, all seemed going on very well, but, as winter approached, they and the others became somewhat torpid, ceased to feed, and carried on their peculiar motions in a slower manner, at longer intervals, and within webs of more contracted space.
By January, 1875, the Anacharis had lost nearly every leaf, and the stems all vitality, and a rapid decay ensued, which destroyed all the contents both of the globe and bottles by the end of the month ; and so I was not able to find out whether a second year would have brought out the rest of my stock in the perfect state.
The general figure of the cocoon of silk in which the pupa of stratiofalis is spun up, is a long oval about five-eighths inch in length by three-sixteenths in width, and gradually widening to the upper end, which is not rounded, but sloped off from above at an obtuse end, thus presenting a somewhat truncated appearance ; it is attached for its whole length, by the back, to a piece of the stem of the food-plant, which affords a strong support, besides being further moored by strong outlying threads from the upper part to the stem ; it is but a little tapered towards the hinder end, which is generally involved amongst some leaves ; I saw some cocoons fixed to two stems ; the colour of the silk is either pale pinkish or flesh colour, inclining to olive anteriorly, and darker greyish-olive behind ; its surface very shining, but it is very opaque, and the pupa cannot be seen through it. The pupa itself is half-an-inch in length, rather slender in proportion, widest from behind the thorax, from whence the abdomen tapers to the rather blunt tip ; the thorax rounds off towards the squarish head ; the eyes large and prominent ; the wing-, antenna- and leg-cases well developed, the latter extending free from the eighth to as far as the end of the twelfth segment ; only three spiracles on either side are distinguishable, viz., on segments six, severi, and eight, but these are large, circular, and projecting considerably like knobs or warts from flic side : at first flie pupa is unieolorous, of a delicate yellowish-flesh
1875.] 1G3
tint, but, as it approaches maturity, the wings appear a davkisli grey-brown, and show the darker outlined central spot ; the eyes also become of the same dark coloiir, the thorax and legs light brown, the abdominal segments whitish-flesh colour transversely barred with light brown ; there is also a faint dorsal line of dusky spots, and a light brown spot on either side of each of the thi-ee segments before the last ; the spiracles are of a light orange-brown, ringed at the base with blackish. — Wm. Buckler, Emsworth : September 21s^, 1875.
On Xysmatndoma melanella and the case of its larva. — When Mr. Harding's notes on X. melanella appeared in 1869 (Yol. vi, pp. 91-93), I must confess I was some- what startled, for variation of species gives trouble enough, but if any insect were proved to be capable of shewing itself under two such totally different forms, not only species, but well marked genera would have to be abandoned, and we should at last arrive at the result of no species and no genera. I therefore hoped we should have heard something more on the subject, and in the meantime made some investigations myself. Has not Mr. Harding confused the cases of two distinct species, of which the imagos are very different, though the cases are somewhat similar ? He describes the cases as " round, slightly curved, and generally green." Now, all the cases from which I have bred X. melanella, were slightly curved at the mouth, where the case is circular, but the hinder end is decidedly three sided, and the case has, when viewed laterally, a truncated appearance. The colour seems to be always green, and when the perfect insect emerges, the pupa skin is left sticking out. From these cases I have bred winged specimens of X. melanella of both sexes, but nothing else. On the same trees, however, on which these cases were found, there were also cases about the same size, but circular for the whole length, and pointed at the hinder end. They are not always green, but frequently show circular bands of green and grey, and the pupa skin is always left inside. From these latter, I have bred only apterous females of the genus Solenohia, and nothing else. I have sent cases of each kind to Mr. Harding, but I believe he still holds to his former opinion, though to myself, the differences noted above are quite conclusive as to the complete separation between the two species. — W. C.Botd, Cheshunt: Nov. 1st, 1875.
[We fear we never laid much stress ourselves on Mr. Harding's supposed dis- covery of two forms of Xyi^matodoma melanella ; we perfectly recollect, that when first Elachista poce was bred — it was reputed a form of E. cerusella, — simply because simultaneously eliminated from the same plant. — Eds.]
ColeopJiorafuscocuprella.—On the 15th of this month, the weather looking a little more favourable, I determined to go after Asychna proJii()ella at Witherslack, but the rain unfortunately again set in when I was within half-an-hour's walk of the coveted spot, and I was obliged to fall back on Grange-ovcr-Sands, where I had to wait several hours before any train was available. So I turned into the woods among the yew-trccs, and by beating them into my umbrella, I filled all the boxes I had with me, putting in some cases two or three specimens in a box. I filled some thirty boxes with Lyoneiia Clerckella, the brown form being as six to one of the white form. Among the lot were one Gracilaria phasianipenneUa,io\xv Zelleria insiynipentiella, red form and yellow, and one specimen partly red and the remainder canary colour : Gracilaria clonyella and Corisciuni cuculipenntiluM also put in an appearance.
1(54 [Decemljer,
As all my boxes were full, I now turned to hunting for lan'iE, and soon had the pleasure of finding some of Coleophora fuscocuprella ; I had looked for it in vain since 1850, when the late T. H. AUis and I had many a hunt for it at Windermere, but I should remark that Stainton says " case circular," and this slightly misled me, as the cases are turned as abruptly as a fish hook, even when very young. I found six of various sizes, some appearing quite full-grown. I may add that I found them only on certain nut-bushes, where I have occasionally met with the perfect insect ; I fancy the cases are greater desiderata than the insects, judging by catalogues sent to mc.— J. B. HoDOKiNSON, 15, Spring Bank, Preston : Octuher 20th, 1875.
Coleophora comjzcc, ZelL, a new British species. — It seems strange that so large and conspicuous an insect as Coleophora conyzce should not have been named till 1868. Possibly the insect had often been previously collected, but confounded with other species. The late Von Heinemann, of Brunswick, first met with the larvse of this insect on Conyza squarrosa ; afterwards M. Milliere found it at Cannes ; now Mr. Sydney Webb has met with it near Dover and at Mickleham, so that the species seems to be widely distributed. Mr. Webb observes that " the blotches it makes on its food-plant are very conspiciious," so that he is surprised the species had not been detected before. Mr. Webb has also met with stragglers feeding on Eapatonum cannahinum.
The somewhat clumsily-shaped case reminds one strongly of that of the labiate- feeder, G. auricella, and it is at a glance distinguished from the smoother and more trim-looking case of the other Eupatorium-fccding species, C- troglodytella.
Professor Zeller, who describes the species in the Verhandlungen der zoologisch- botanischen Gesellschaft in Wien, 1868, p. 623, observes that it closely resembles G. virgatella, for which, when collecting the imago, he had mistaken it, not observing the absence of the tuft at the base of the antennsB. Also that it comes very near to C. onosniella, for small specimens of which it might almost be mistaken, but that the following differences might be perceived : 1st — the anterior wings are considerably broader ; 2nd — the tuft of the palpi reaches to the end of the terminal joint, or even exceeds it, whereas in onosmella it only reaches to half the length of the terminal joint ; 3rd — the more slender basal joint of the antennte : 4th — the greater shortness (or, as the German phrase is, " the more trifling length ") of the anterior wings ; 5th — the early appearance of the imago (from the 2Sth May to middle of June) ; and 6th — the difference of the ease of the larva. Schlager bred the insect at Jena, from Inula hirta.
On the Conyza squarrosa, Mr. Webb observes that the larva feeds on the radical leaves rather voraciously. — II. T. Staintox, Mountsfield, Lewisham, S.E. : November Gth, 1875.
Entomological Society of London : 3rd November, 1875. — Sir S. S. Saundees, C.M.Q-., President, in the Chair.
As this was the first Meeting in the New Rooms at 11, Chandos Street, Cavendish Square, the President delivered a short Inaugural Address.
M. Oscar Lamarche, of Liege, was elected a Foreign Member.
Mr. W. C. Boyd exhibited mines of Heliozela sericiella in oak. The habits of this insect had for long bullied the researches dt Miero-Lepidopterists, though it was
1875.] 1(55
evidently attached to oak. Mr. Boyd had coiifined a numhor of the insects with a young oak phiiit, and was rewarded by the discovery of the larva and mine. The latter is in the foot-stalk of the leaf, and this partly accounted for its having hitherto escaped detection.
Mr. McLachlan exhibited a living apterous female of the terrestial Trichoptcrous insect belonging to the genus Enoicyla (probably E. pusilla, Burm.), discovered in this country by Mr. Fletcher, of Worcester; and gave some account of its singular habits and structure. The perfect insects (the (? being provided with ample wings) emerge in November, and the individual exhibited had been recently bred from cases forwarded by ilr. Fletcher.
Mr. Champion exhibited examples of the following Coleojytera, most of which have been previously noticed in this Magazine, viz. : — Crypiophagus populi, found in the biUTOws of Colletes Daviesiana near Farnhara ; Orchestes semirufus ?, from Woking ; Epurcecb neglccta, from Dareiith Wood ; and Psammohius porcicollis, taken by Mr. J. J. Walker at Whitsand Bay, Cornwall.
Mr. Phipson exhibited a Catocala nupta with a multitude of the ordinary insect- infesting Acari congregated on a certain spot on one of the anterior-wings, instead of being on the body, as is usual.
The Rev. H. S. Gorham read "Descriptions of a new genus and some new species of Endomycici."
Mr. A. G. Butler read a " List of the Lepidoptera referable to the genus Hijpsa, with descriptions of new species."
Mr. E. Saunders read the second part of his " Synopsis of the British Ilemiptera- Ileteroptera."
Mr. C. O. Waterhouse read " Descriptions of new genera and species of Hetero- mera (llelopuhr.J , chieHy from Terra del Fuego." They formed part of the collections made by Mr. Darwin on his exploring voyage, and were originally described by Mr. Waterhouse, Sen., but the MS. was lost, and the insects had thus remained unnoticed uj) to the present time.
Part ii of the ' Transactions ' for 1875 was on the table.
Haggeeston Extomolooical Society. — The Eighth Annual Exliibition of this Society was held on Thursday and Friday, November 11th and 12tli, at their Eooms in Brownlow Street, Dalston. Many rare insects were exhibited. Among others a fine variety of C. glahraria by Mr. Harper, a dark variety of E. trilinearia by Mr. Lovell, a striking variety of S. tilioe by Mr. Clark, tlirce black specimens of B. abietaria by Mr. Pratt, varieties of P. cytisaria, 0. quercifolia, and N. plantaginis by Mr. J. Moore, &c. Messrs. Biggs and Bryant exhibited a long series of S. con- volviili, some of them very fine ; Mr. Pratt, //. asellus, L. pulveralis, C. gnaphalii, and D. albimacula; Mr. W. II. Danby, C. gnaphalii and L. albipuncta ; Messrs. J. W. and C. Macquccn, S. chrysidiformis and N. agathina; Mr. Whale, D. albi- macula; Mr. Meek, A. nemoralis, &c. ; Mr. Packman, A. Iris ; and Mr. Machin, a new species of the genus Eupoecilia ; also P. grevillana, L. servillana, C. nimbana, E. curvistrigana, R. resinana, P. paludana, and a splendid series of P. upupana ; while last, but not the least interesting, Mr. Iloey exhibited living larvic of H. derivalis feeding on dead oak leaves, their natural food. — Uenuy Bautlett, Secretary.
\QQ [December,
SoTJTU London Entomological Society. — The usual Annual Private Exhibition of this year's captures (lield this season in place of a public exhibition, as heretofore) by the Members, took place in the Society's Kooms, 104, Westminster Bridge Eoad, S.E., on November 4th, 1875, and was well attended, about forty Members being present, the greater part of whom contributed.
Of the large number of species of Lepidoptera exhibited (amongst which were many striking varieties), the following are some of the most noteworthy : —
Mr. Sydney Webb, of Red Hill : Argynnis Selene, vars. — one golden hued, another silvery ; A. Euphrosyne, var. with blurred markings of upper wing, the lower almost entirely dark ; Euchelia jacohece, pale var., with ordinary markings very elegant owing to a slight diaphanous scaling ; Vanessa, lo, of unusually dark colour, almost looking as though it had been dipped in oil — bred ; and many others.
Mr. A. Jones, of Eltham : Lycmna Corydon, light brown variety of ? , Deal, August; Ephyra pendularia, $ with centre of fore wing orange colour, Tilgate, May; Noctua sohrina (2) bi'ed from larvce taken in Perthshire this summer; Rusina tenebrosa, black form, from Rannoch ; Noctua neglecta, var., bred, larva from Rannoch ; Cidaria corylata, pale var., Rannoch.
Mr. J. P. Barrett, of Peckham : Arge Galatliea, fine var., Gravesend ; Apatura Iris and Nola alhulalis (series), Strood ; Acronyda alni, bred, larva from the New Forest ; Agrotis ravida, Sheerness ; and many others.
Mr. Tugwell, of Q-i-eenwich : OpModes limaris, taken this season at Abbots Wood, Lewes ; Xylina conformis, series, bred, Llantrissant ; Dianthcecia albimacula, Portsmouth; Triphwna orbona (var. Curtisii), Aberdeenshire; Corycia taminata, suffused var., Strood ; and Agrotis nemoralis (series). Abbots Wood.
Dr. Lucas, Westminster Bridge Road: Sesia chrysidiformis (bred), Asthena sylrata, Dianthcecia albimacula, Heliothis marginata, Emmelesia affi,nitata, and others from Folkestone.
Mr. Shearwood, of Norwood : Erastria venustula, Horsham ; Noctua ditrapezium, Brighton; Stenia punctalis, Eastbourne; Heliopliohus hispida, Devonshire; Dian- thcecia albimacula, Portsmouth ; and others.
Mr. Williams, Old Kent Road : Notodonta chaonia. bred, larva? from Tilgate ; Bmrmia abietaria, bred series, larva; from Mickleham ; Trichiura cratcegi, bred series ; and others.
Messrs. Farn and Bird, of Dartford : A box of Tineina and Crambites, con- taining about 1400 specimens (consisting of a large number of interesting and rare species) from various localities, and all taken during the past season.
Mr. Briggs, Lincoln's Inn : Lyccena JEgon, gynandroniorplious specimen ; L. Alexis, hermaphrodite, Folkestone, July ; Lemiodcs pulveralis (2), and Crambus Verellus, Folkestone; Zygwna filipenduhv, five vars. ; and others.
Mr. Weston, Islington : Arge Oalathea, var. with fore wings almost colourless ; Satyrus Janira vars. ; Lycixna Corydon, JEgnn, aud Alexis, vars. ; L. Adonis, blue forms of $ upper side, and a (J var., also vars. of under-side ; Polyommatus phla^as vars. ; Syrichthus alveolus, a streaky var. ; Ennomos tiliaria, bred pale and dark vars. ; Zygana filipendulae, vars. with sixth spot indistinct or absent — bred ; Spilodes palealis, Ttthea retusa, and others — bred examples ; also very many interesting Tortrices.
Mr. Hoey, Peckham : Life history of Limenitis Sibylla ; also preserved larvae of Uerminia derivalis, Acidalia inornata, Ptilophora plumigera, Trichiura cratcegi, and others.
Mr. Oldham, Hackney: Leucania albipuncta, Colias Edusa (var. HeliceJ , and others from Folkestone ; Carsia imbutata and liyria auroraria, Carrington Moss ; and others.
1875.] 107
Mr. S. Stevens : Vars. of Lycccna JE'jon and Corydon, Uei^'perm linea and comma, &c.
Mr. Ficklin, of Kingston : Macaria alternata, series, Coombe Wood ; Geometra papilionaria, bred scries j Ennomos erosaria, fuscantaria, and tiliaria, &e. — bred examples.
Mr. Standcn, of Surbiton : Xylina semihrunnea, Oxford; Melanthia riihiginata and Noctua Dahlii, Wicklow ; Aplecta herhida. New Forest; Trachea piniperda, Esher; also bred examples of Acidalia emutaria, &c.
Messrs. Moor and Gihbs, Old Kent Koad : Neuria so.ponarice, Epunda hdulertta, Acontia luctuosa, and Hecatera dysodea, Margate; Ileliothis dijisarea, Felixstowe ; Bombyx callunm, Bodmin ; and otbers.
Mr. Bliss, Ladywell : Spilodes palealis, Leucania comma, and Miana literosa, Lewisbam ; Xylina semihrunnea, Cabera rotundaria, Epunda lutulenta, Geometra papilionana, Lithosia griseola, &c., from Darentb Wood ; Acidalia rubricata, Box Hill; Nudaria senex, Tilgate ; Tephrosia consonaria, E ury men e dolabr aria, and others from West Wickham.
Messrs. C. and S. Channon, of Lcwishani : Limacndes asellus, Zygoena meliloti, Leucania pudorina, Cleora glabraria, Boarmia roboraria, Acidalia emxitarin, and many otbers from tbe New Forest ; Laucania albipuncta. West Wickham Wood ; Notodonta dictosoidcs, Lithosia quadra, Cabera rotundaria, Eremohia ochroleuca, and otbers from Darenth Wood ; Xylina semibrunnea, Camptogramma fluviata, Tethea retusa, Cucullia chamoynillce, Cirrhadia xerampelina, Agrotis saucia, Amphidasis prodromaria, &c., from Lewisham.
Various species of Coleoptera taken this season, were exhibited by Mr. Spiers, and by Mr. Champion.
Mr. Marsh, and Mr. IT. D. Power, contributed Hymenoptera, the former ex- hibiting many species of Tenthredinidce, and the latter species belonging to the Aculeate and Fossorial groups. — Gr. C. Champion, Secretary, 274, Walworth Koad, Loudon, S.E. : November 9th, 1875.
Catalogue des Hemipterks Hkteropteres, Cicadines et Pstllides
D'EriiOPE ET DTI Basin DE la MiCDITEURANICE.
Under this title, has recently been published the 2nd edition of Dr. Puton's Catalogue of the Ilemijjtera of Europe, &c. The first came out in 1869, but tho new species described since then, and the alterations in synonymy, &c., have been so numerous, that a new edition was much wanted, and will be most acceptable to all who study European Hemlptera. The increase in the number of species given in the present Catalogue over that in 1869 is 260, but this docs not represent all the new species that have been discovered, because a large number of the so-called species of 1869 have now been sunk as synonymous with others. The present is a full synonymic list of all the European species of Ileteroptera, including also those of the Mediterranean basin, and has been extended also to the Jlomoptera. It is printed in two forms ; one a catalogue of reference, in two columns ; the other for labelling, in one column. They are admirably got up, and the only thing to be wished is that the labelling catalogue had been printed on thicker paper. Tliero is, however, one error that must be pointed out, viz., that Oiico(t/hts pilosus, given as a species on p. 42, is only a variety of Macrocoleus solilarius, as noticed by Messrs. Douglas and Scott in this Magazine, vol. x, p. 277. There arc still many species given as doubtful, which we may yet hope to sec cleared up ; for instance, it may well be believed that the niunber of species in the genus Corixa (GS) will have to be considerably reduced. We are sure all Ilemipterists will unite in thanking Dr. Puton for this and his other excellent works on llemiptera. — E. S.
168 (Dcccmljer, 1875.
ON CEETAIN BRITISH nEMIPTERA-EOMOPTERA fATSTSANUSJ. (contimiedfrom Page 100.)
by john scott.
Section C. Distance between the inner margin of the eyea at the base of the head more than twice the length down the centre ; anterior margin sub-rotundate.
Croion yellow, witli a broad transverse black streak in a line with the anterior margin of, and extending to, each eye ; middle of the anterior margin with an arcuate black streak, best seen from in front. Face black, with a narrow central line, apex, and 7-8 transverse, slightly curved streaks on each side, yellow ; near the upper margin of each eye, and between the latter and the side of the lobe is a conspicuous yellow spot. Clypeus yellow, base and a broad central line black ; lorce yellow, narrowly margined with black. Elytra longer than the abdomen, generally fuscous or brownish, nerves yellow ; ante-apical areas here and there pale in the middle ; two apical areas next the dorsal margin pale. Wings pale fuscous ; nerves darker. Thighs : 1st pair yellow, base broadly, and a ring, or sometimes only a spot, on the lower margin towards the apex, black. Length 1| — IJ line 14. stkiola, Fall.
A small species, and easily recognized by the black streak on the crown and the pale nerves of the elytra. I sometimes fancy, on ex- aminiiig my specimens, that we have another species mixed up with the above, in which the head is a little more pointed in front, the elytra testaceous, shading off to very pale straw colour on the costal margin, and having the genital plates of the (^ yellow, whereas in A. s/riohi these last are usually black. Tor the present, however, I leave the matter as it is, until I have completed my dissections.
Crotvn bro^siiish-yellow, with a transverse black streak on the anterior margin ex- tending from eye to eye ; across the middle a brown streak, in which arc two large shallow fovese. Face black, with 6-7 fine, transverse, yellow lines. Elytra longer than the abdomen, brownish-yellow, sliining ; nerves paler than the disc, and narrowly margined on each side with dark brown. Coriutn : ante-apical areas adjoining the costal margin dark brown or blackish, frequently palish in the centre; apical areas dark fuscous, sometimes paler in the centre. Wings dark fuscous ; nerves black. Thighs : Ist pair, sordid yellow, with two narrow black rings. Length 2:i — 2 J lines 15. nekvosus, Fall. (T'erra//i, Scott.)
This insect was sent by me to the Continent before it was de- scribed, to ascertain whether it was amongst Fieber's insects or drawings, and was returned as unknown. Too late to prevent its appearance under a new name, I stumbled upon the Fallenian description, and, on reference to Fieber's Cat., I find he has placed it in a new genus of his own, in which he is followed by J. Sahlberg, viz., Paramcsus. It seems
.);inu;ny, 1S:G ] 109
to be a Bcarcc species on the Continent, nnd was described by StRl in the Forhandlingar, 1817, 174, 1, under the name of Athysanus oh- tusifrons.
Two other representatives of this genus were forwarded by Mr. Douglas to Dr. J. Sahlberg for identification, who returned one of them as A. distinr/uendus, Kirschb., without doubt, and the other as perhaps A. convexus, Kirschb. I have hesitated to describe these species, although I see no reason why they should not be found in England, for the following reasons, tIz. : — Kirschbaum places his distinguendus in a group of which he makes 2}lebems, Fall., his type, having milk-white patches, especially upon the transverse nerves, of the elytra, aud as I fail to detect these patches, although Kirschbaum says they are less distinct than in the typical insect, I at present be- lieve this to be only a form of A. ohscurellus. The other, ? A. convexus, appears to me to approach pJeheiiis more than the division of which ohsoletus, Kirschb., is the representative, and there being only a ? which does not bear out the description of the author, it is perhaps wiser to wait until we see further. The extraordinary amount of variation in colour in the whole of the species of Homoptera renders them extremely dillicult to deal with, and perhaps the climax is attained in lassus, Thamnotettix, Athysanus, and Deltocephaliis.
Genus ALLYGUS, Fieber, ined. The name for this new genus was proposed by Fieber, in his Kat. dcr Europ. Cicad. (1872), and, although he may not have left any details of the characters by which he defined it, except perhaps those in his drawings which I have not seen, I think there can be but little doubt that his first idea for separating the species from Athy sanies, auctt., was derived from Burmeister's Gen. Ins., vol. i, on the plate bearing the name lassus (the plates are not numbered, neither is the letter-press paged), and the drawing of the elytron numbered 8 on that plate. There it will be seen that the ordinary ante-apical areas to which we have been accustomed are broken up at irregular intervals into smaller areas by means of transverse nerves. These are perma- nent, and not mere "sports" or freaks, such as are often met with amongst many of the Homoptera, where, in a single insect, the neuration on the one elytron is very different to that on the other. The shape of the insects is also favourable to their removal lure. The head is narrower, and the outline somewhat more boat-shaped ib.an in Athysanus. It is peculiar also that all the species arc reticulated, and have their transverse nerves white. Fieber's Catalogue shews sixteen
170 [J;inu;iry,
species as European, of which ten are his own naming ; nine of these have never been described, and, except that the types or the drawings are in the possession of MM. Lethieny and Puton, they might as well never have been named.
The following are the principal characters by which the genus may be known : —
Head — crown slightly convex ; anterior margin rounded, angle obtuse ; distance between the inner margin of the eyes at the base twice or more than twice the length down the centre ; basal margin concave, ^i/es moderate, outer margin in a line with the lateral margin of the pronotum. Ocelli minute, placed on the anterior margin near to each eye. Face convex. Clypeus reaching to the lower mar- gin. ClieeTcs wider than long, with a longitudinal channel in a line with the lower angle of the eye : lo7'(S somewhat lozenge-shaped, the outer margin rounded.
Thorax — pronotum transverse, sub-hexagonal ; anterior margin convex ; lateral margins rounded ; posterior margin concave. Scutel- lum triangular, apex acute. Elytra — clavus : axillary nerve joined to the central nerve by a transverse nerve springing from the centre of the former ; central nerve and claval suture united at irregular in- tenals by 3-4 transverse nerves. Cerium : ante-apical areas divided here and there by transverse nerves.
Abdomen : genital valve short, projecting but a little way beyond the margin of the last abdominal segment ; genital plates elongate, somewhat parabolic.
Crown somewhat bone-wliitc' ; cxtrenio anterior margin with four black spots, best visible from in front, and a black patch next each eye, its inner margin half en- circling the ocellus ; in the middle, two black spots about equidistant from each other and the eyes, and posteriorly a smaller spot, sometimes obsolete, near each eye. Face black, with about seven short, transverse, yellow streaks on each side, and a narrow, longitudinal, central line joined to a broad transverse band before the apex, also yellow. Clypeus yellow, with a black, longitudinal, central line widened towards the apes ; /ortE yellow, margined with black, except at the apex next the clypeus. Elytra black, longer than the abdomen. Clavus : suture and inner marginal nerve testaceous ; at the apex of the central nerve a large, white, somewhat semi-ovate patch, in which is a sometimes divided black streak next the claval suture ; along the inner margin between the base and the apex of the 1st nerve, three or four white spots ; disc between the nerves re- ticulated with bro^^"n. Corium : costal nerve testaceous-white; 1st and 2nd transverse nerves white, the colour on the former extending for a little way iip and down the longitudinal nerves forming an H-shaped character; costal margin with a white patch opposite the two transverse nerves, in the former generally
1876.] 171
a pitchy-black streak, and iii the latter a riuiall, round black spot ; apical areas testaceous, their bases aud apices fuscous-black ; longitudinal nerves finely spotted witli brownish-yellow. Thitfhs : 1st pair pule testaceous with a broad black ring at the base, and another narrower one before the apex.
9 . IJrown, finely reticulated with black. Ulyli-a : apices of the nerves of the clavus, and gcuerally all the transverse nerves of the corium, white.
Length, S , -h ? > 3 lines. 1. MiXTPS, Germ. Sometimes the ? is almost identical with the ^ in colour and markings.
I believe this to be tlic commonest of the three species at present known in Britain, and at once to be distinguished from the otlier two hy the characters on the head aud the bhxck elytra.
9 • Croinn pale testaceous, somewhat dingy, with a lunate brown streak, its extremities passing the inner margin of the ocelli, and enclosing four brown spots on the anterior margin. Face : upper half brown, lower half black ; the former with 4-5 pale transverse streaks on each side, the latter with a narrow, longitudinal central line, and the sides next the apex margined with testaceous. Clypeus testaceous, base and a broad central streak black ; cavities, in which the pale an- tenna? are set, black. Cheeks and lor<B pale testaceous. Elytra longer than the abdomen, greyish or dingy testaceous. Clavus next the dorsal margin spotted with dark brown, interrupted by the nerves. Corium : all the transverse and portions of the longitudinal nerves white? ; area immediately below the basal one, transverselj- reticulated with dark brown ; inner margin of some of the uerves of the whitish ante-apical areas here and there spotted with dark brown. Thighs : 1st pair yellow ; on the outside at the base two short, longitudinal, black streaks aud a transverse half ring before the apex also black. Length 3 lines.
2. COMMUTATUS, Yioh., ^= atomarlus, Kirsehb.
As Germar had already described a species belonging to this genua under tlie name of afomnriiis, and with which Kirschbauni's species had UDtliing whatever to do, Fieber, in his Catalogue, proposed for it the name I have above used. A. atomarius is a much larger insect than A. commutatus, and Fieber refers Ilcydcni, Kirsehb., to it. I only possess a single example, from which the foregoing de- scription was made, which was named fi^r me by the lale Dr. J^'icbcr.
Crown testaceous-grey, with a black slanting 7-8haped cliaracter on each sidd, its upper edge margining the ocelli for a short distance ; near the base a small bi'own spot, placed nearer to the eyes than the middle of the basal margin. Face testaceous, with about eight broadish, l)la<-k, tmnsverse streaks on each side, the two on the frons more or less comma-shaiied ; longitudinal, centml line aud the apex forming a J_-shapcd testaceous character. Clieeks and lorm testaceous, tlio latter with a small black spot nearly in the centre. Elytra longer tlian the abdomen, tes- taceous. Clavus: apex dark brown, composed of confluent spots, margins of tlie nerves finely spotted with dark brown, more or less interrupted in different individuals ; apices of the nerv'es and a small spot above eaeh, white. Corittiii :
172 ■ [Janiiarj-,
anterior marginal nerre brown, the areas adjoining the latter from the base to the apex transTcrselj reticulated with dark brown ; the next adjoining areas also transversely reticulated but much interrupted ; margins of the nerves of the other areas spotted with dark brown ; transverse nerves white. Wings fuscous- brown, nerves piceous. Thighs : Ist pair yellow, with a black ring before the apex. Length, (J, 2i, ? , 3 lines. 3. modestus, Fieb. ined., {atomarins, Marshall).
This species is easily recognizable by the slanting T-sbaped char- acter on the crown.
I have examined the exponents o£ A. atomarins in the collection of the Eev. T. A. Marshall, and compared them with his description in the E. M. M., vol. iii, p. 8-1, 22, and can confidently refer them to the above.
Lee : August, 1875.
DESCRIPTIONS OP TWO NEW SPECIES OF LUCANID2E {COLEOPTEEA).
BY ClIAS. O. WATEEHOUSE.
Odontolabis Gouberti, sp. n.
Statiirafere 0. gazellce ; totus nigcr ; elytris nitidioribus, distinctius punctulatis.
(^ . Mandihulis capite paido hreviorihus, crassis, ad basin sithito incur vat is ; hasi dente magno obtuso, medio denfe conico, dein ad apicem dentibiis 2 — 3 minoribus, intus armatis. Capite magno, sub-opaco, con- fertim granuloso, pone oculos dente sat acuto antrorsum directo insfructo ; oculorum cantho lato, depresso, externe arcuato. Thorace sat convexo, subtiJius granulato, medio nitidiori, antice angustato, dente lateraJi magno, triangulari. EJytris tlwrace vix latioribus, sat nitidis, ad latera sub- opacis, sat crebre distincte piinclulafis, latitudine \ longioribus. Tibiis anticis extus denliculis 2 vel 3 minufis acutis arinatis.
Long, {cum viandib.) 21 — 20 //??.
?. Capite uf in O. gazella ; tlwrace dorsim minus depresso, antice regulariter angustato ; de7ite lateral i hand producto ; emarginatione ad angulos posticos obliquo ; angulis post ids hand acutis. Long. 19 lin.
This species resembles O. gazella in general form, but the elytra are rather more expanded below the shoidders. The head in the male is much broader and larger iu proportion ; the canthus of the eye is as in O. carinatus, but much more dilated. The spine behind the eye is as in 0. gazella, but is more acute and directed forwards. The mandibles are short and strong, suddenly bent inwards at tho base, the external outline being somewhat flexuose; there is a strong blunt tooth at the base, a second about the middle, and between this and the apex are two or three smaller blunt teeth ; when the mandibles arc closed (here is an open space left between the basal and the
18761 173
mesial toeth. Tlie thorax gradually narrowed ia frout from the lateral tooth, vvliieh is triangular as in O. carinatus; the incision at the posterior angles is also as in that species. The elytra are rather more distinctly, and somewhat less closely, punctured than in 0. gazella.
The head of the female is as in O. gazella ; the thorax is relatively broader than in that species, gradually narrowed from the lateral tooth to the anterior angles, thus the form of the thorax is nearly that of O. bicolor, $ , but it ia rather more narrowed in front.
I£ab. : Mindoro, Philippines. Coll. Major Parry.
Ctclommatus Zubeei, sp. n. PaUide castaneus, cstieo-micans ( ^ griseo-puhescens) ; corpore suhtus, anfennis pedihusque piceo-(Eneis,femoril)Us supra rufo-testaceis ; tliorace linea sidurali cenea.
(J. var. max. ; jnandihuUs longis, regulariter arcuafis, intus prope basin dente magno acuto, proiie ajiicem dente hrevi lata ; clypeo lato, rejlexo, recte truncato. Long, (sine mandih.) IG I in., mandih. 9.j li7i.
(J . var. minor ; mandihulis capite paulo longioribus, intus basi dente magno apice emarginato, ad apicem denticulis 5 — 6 armatis ; clgpeo lato, truncato, obsolete tridentato.
Long, (siiie mandib.) 11- — -13 lin., mandib. 4 — 5i lin.
This species closely resembles C. ajfflnis, but is darker in colour, more shining ; the pubescence (only in the c? ) is rather less scale-like and more dense. The thorax in both sexes has an a;neous sutural line, and an reneous stripe on each side towards the sides. The male in the large variety has the mandibles furnished with a single large tooth at the base, and between this and the apical teeth there are indications of three or four small teeth, the foremost of them being most prominent; the sub- apical tooth is broad and short, and between this and the apex of the mandible are two or three small teeth.
The smaller males have the basal tooth of the mandibles cmarglnate at its apex ; between this and the sub-apical tooth tliere is sometimes a very small tubercle ; the sub-apical tooth is acute, and not much larger than tlio three or four teeth which follow it.
The female palo castancous, with a spot on the middle of tlie forehead and behind each eye blackish-soneous ; the punctuation is crowded. The tliorax has tliree broad dark roncous stripes; the punctuation is thick and strong, less strong and more close than in C. affitiLi. The elytra are very closely and somewhat strongly punctured, less closely and less strongly than in C. ajpni.i ; the suture and the extreme margins are seneous, and there is also an indication of a stripe on the disc of each elytron. The whole insect is much broader, and less convex, than tlie female of C. ajjlnis.
Ilab. : Mindoro, Philippine Isles.
Coll. Major Parry and 13rit. Mus.
British Museum : November 17th, 1875.
17|. [January,
DESCRirTION OF A NEW SrECIES OF CniASOGNATUUS {COLEOPTERA ; LUCA^IBM).
BY MAJOR F. J. S. FABRY, F.L.S.
CniASOONATnus IIiquinsi, «p. n. {var. max.'). ^ . Casfaneus, nitidus, purpureo vel viridi-ceneo micans, aurco puhescens ; viandihulis gracilihus, deflexis, sinuatis, capite prothoraceque paulo longiorihus, granulosis, apicihus injlexis intus minute nodoso-str- ratis, denteqiie parvo suh-apicali instructis ; antennce mutilatco. Capite quadrato, antice elevato tifrinque nodosa, angulis ante oculos acute pro- duct is ; prothorace transvcrso, convexo, disco elevato, irregulariter rugoso- punctato, anqidis anticis posticisqne producfis, rotundatis, leviter reflcxis, Infcrihus profande foveolatis, minute nodoso-serratis, elytris crehre sub- til iter puncfatis, rugoso-rermiculatis, pedihus concolorihus, ceneo tincfis, tihiis anticis curvatis, extus et intus mi?iute irregulariter denticulatis, pos/icis quatuor reef is, suh-lente extus spinis 3 vel 4 minutis instructis, tarsis nigris. Long. carp. iinc. 1, lin. 2 ; mandih. tin. G.
$ . uViger, nitidus, obscure viridi-ceneo tinctus ; mandihuJis hrecibus rohustis, valdc rugoso-punctatis ; capite parvo, antice binodoso-elevato, fortiter punctata, angulis ante oculos rotundatis ; prothorace suh-lente crehre et miniote punctato, angulis anticis productis, rotundatis, posticisque ohliquis, laterihus irregulariter x^odoso-serratis. Elytris elongatis, suh- convexis, dense suhtiliter punctulatis, 7-erniiculatis, angulis humeralihtis rotundatis pedihusque concoloribus 2)unctatis, tihiis anticis extus tri- dejitatis, inierincdiis hispinosis, p)osticisquc spi?ui tninufd j^^'ope apicem instructis. Long, corp., mandih. incl., unc. 1.
Habitat : Bolivia. Coll. Parry.
C. Iligginsi, ^, although having a close resemblance to the mem- bers of the genus Sphenognathus, may be at once distinguished by the slender sinuate and deflexed mandibles, characters in these organs peculiar to the genus Chiasognathus. C. Iligginsi forms an appropriate lint between the two genera. AV'e are indebted to C. Buckley, Esq., for the discovery in Bolivia of this new species ; unfortunately, most of the specimens sent (chiefly females) arrived in a very indifferent condition. With reference to the females, although differing con- spiciiously from the ^, both as to coloration and total absence of even any trace of pubescence either on ihe upper or under surface of the insect, tljcy may, nevertheless, I think, be united, without hesitation, to the males, instances occurring in other allied species, showing, in this respect, the same remarkable difference between the two sexes.
. 18, Oublow Square, S.W. :
NovemOir Uf, 1875. *
1870] 175
NOTES ON BRITISH COLJSOPTERA, WITH DESCRIPTIONS OF TUREE
NEW SPECIES.
BX E. C. RYE, F.Z.S. IIXDROPORrS ASSIMILIS, Pajk.
I am indebted to Mr. Horace Francis, of Lee, for (J and ? of a variety of this insect, taken by him at Keswick, Cumberland. They differ from the ordinary form in being rather smaller, with only the tip of the apical joint of the antennae dark, and in having in the ? the faintest possible indication of the ordinary two basal thoracic dark spots, which in the ^ are entirely absent. - Mr. Francis informs me, that of thirty-six specimens taken at Keswick, nine have no spots on the thorax, sixteen have them indistinct, one has thorn united, and the remainder have them separate and well marked. In about half the number, the extreme tip only of the antennae is dark. Neither Aube, Schaum, or Thomson notice any variation in the thoracic marking. The 6th elytral black stripe in the above mentioned ^ is much ab- breviated ; but all the stripes vary much in length and width in this species, — I have one specimen in which the whole elytra are suffused with black, leaving faint traces of discal yellow lines, and a thin border of yellow, expanding above and below the middle of the sides into a larger light spot.
ALEOCn.lEA niBEENICA, sp. n.
Linearis, nifjro-picea, pedibus, antenoiarumque ai'/icuiis quafuor hasalihus, testaccis ; capite niticlo, sat evidenter hand crebre puncfulato, fhorace convexiitsculo, quam capnt crebrius puncfulato, basi obsolete foveolato ; elt/tris lioc fere longioribus, fortius at minus crebre punctu- latis ; abdomine nitido, stqyra sat crebre punct at o, apice lesviusculo.
Long. \\ tin. (Anglic).
Of the size, and somewhat of the build, of Uomalota cambrica, "WoU. {velox, Ktz.), but darker, more convex, elongate, and shining, less closely punctured, with shorter antennae, <fcc. Closely allied, according to M. Chas. Brisout, to Aleochara nigrata, Fairm., from which it differs in its finer and closer punctuation, and lighter femora. It cannot satisfactorily be compared with any British species, owing to its linear shape, feeble punctuation, and very small size ; in the latter respect, however, it is about equalled by the smallest A. nitida in my possession. The facies, in fact, is not that of an Aleochara at all, the antennae being gradually and very slightly widened towards the apex, and there being the reverse to a tendency to the fusiform shape. The anterior tarsi are, however, o-jijinted.
17(> [January,
A dingle specimen was taken by Mr. G-. C. Champion, in June last, out o£ moss at the top of Slieve Donard (a mountain 2800 feet high, Co. Down, Ireland), in company with Oxypoda rupicola, mihi, and other hill-frequenting species.
Mem. Aleochara nigrata, Fairm., described as a Cahdera, Faune Ent. Fran9.,Col. i, p. 380, from two specimens found under moss near Paris, by M. Brisout, is omitted from the third edition of De Marseul'ii Catalogue, 1867, though it appears as an Aleochara in that of Dr. Grenier (1863).
HOMALOTA EGEEGIA, Sp. n.
EJongata, linearis, depressa, parce puhescens, nitidiuscula, hrunneo- testacea ; capite, fere Icevi, ahdominisque segmentis 4'" et 5'" siiffiisim, piceo-nigris ; antennis capite ct thornce longioribus, articulis penultimis hand fortiter transvcrsis ; thorace ohscuriore, obsolete canaliculato, elytris hoc vix dimidio longioribus, obsoletissime punctulatis ; abdomine supra laevigato. Long. \\ lin. {Anglic).
(Section C, group viii. of Dr. Sharp's ' Revision '; 4th group, Kraatz.)
Allied to JI. rufotestacea, Ktz., and elegantula, Bris., which it resembles in colour ; differing from both in the structure of its antenna>, which are longer, gradually and but slightly widened towards the apex, with the 4th joint considerably less transverse, joints 5-10 transverse-obconic, and the apical joint very much longer. From rufotestacea, it differs also in its rather more depressed build and shining appearance, the still more obsolete punctuation of its head ; its much more shining, darker, more obsoletely channelled and rather more evidently and widely punctulated thorax ; and rather longer elytra. From elegantula, it may at once bo known by its smaller size, uiipunctured head, more shining thorax, &c.
A single specimen, taken by Mr. G. C. Champion at Caterham, by evening sweeping in June, 1873 (recorded as H. rufotestacea, Ent. Mo. Mag., X, p. 39), has been returned by Dr. Sharp and M. Brisout as unknown to them.
HoMALiiTM GRACiLicoBNE, Fairm.
M. Brisout, the captor of the single example on which this species was described, having been fortunate enoiigh to take some more, has kindly sent me one, which agrees ad punctum with the specimen on which I introduced the species as Britfth,
!src.] 177
Colon Zedh, ICmatz.
BarnevilUi, Ktz. ; Touruier, Ann. Soc. Ent. Fr. (i), iii, p. 14G, pi. V, fig. 10 {forma hrevimucronatd) .
Two ^ ppecimens, one taken by Mr. E. A. "Waterhouse, at Studley, near Eipon, in May last, the other by Mr. Cliamjjion, taken at Ca- terham, in June, 1873, have been returned to me by M. Henri Tournier, of Geneva, as C. Barnevillii, a species new to our list. It is described as much resembling G. Zehii, but of a constantly smaller size, with the antennae always entirely testaceous, the thorax darker than the elytra, which are more strongly punctured, and the shorter and less regularly curved hind femoral spine of the male. This spine differs in develop- ment in these two examples, so that I have been induced to examine further specimens of C. Zehii, and can only come to the conclusion that C. BarnevilUi is an undeveloped form of it, and not a good species. As to size, I have examined undoubtedly ^ Zehii, only one line long (it varies to over Ij liu.), as small as the smallest 5ar?ieye7Z/i' ; the an- tennae are often entirely testaceous also in Zehii; the thorax is not darker than the elytra in one of the two British BarnevilUi above noted, and is often darker in Zehii ; I see no difference in the punc- tuation ; and I find among Mr. Champion's specimens a ^ with the spine intermediate in curvature and length between Zehii and Barne- viUii, there being, moreover, a distinct difference in these respects between the first mentioned two specimens, as above noted.
PiiALAcnrs.— M. Tournier, who is still engaged upon a Monograph of this genus and its allies, now considers the insect referred to as P. Ihimhcrti, Tournier, Ent. Mo. Mag., ix, p. 37, to be a variety of P. corruscus (I have further British examples). A very email fdrm of P. corruscus, scarcely three-fourths of an English line long, has come under my observation recently (in some numbers) ; this only differs in size from the type. I have found another example of P. Brisouti, mihi, taken at Deal, and several specimens of P. hrunnipes, Bris.,from Bait marshes at Chatham and Sheerness, among some insects belonging to iVIr. Champion.
OLinnrs HELVETicus, Tournier, MS.
A single example, taken by Mr. Champion at Caterham, in July, 1872, has been returned to me with this nanu; l)y M. Tour- nier. Its shining black colour, and rather evident elytral punctuation, distinguish it from all known British species except O. particeps, from which its broader and shorter form will suffice to separate it.
178 I January,
Cetptophaous bubfumatus, Kraatz, Stettin, cnt. Zeit., 1856, p. 2il. A single specimen from the London district, in Mr. G. C. Cham- pion's collection, ia corroborated as belonging to this species by M. Brisout. It resembles G. validus, Ktz., being nearly as large, but narrower, especially in the thorax, of which the anterior callosities are more distinctly prominent.
Atomauia diyisa, sp. n.
Breviter ovaJis, convexa, fere (jihhula, siih-glahra, rufo-ferruginea, fhorace haud transversa, antrorsum leviter anr/iistato, hasi ant/uste hatid profu7ide transversim i?iiprcsso, viarginis medio haud eJevato ; eJytris iiiqris, apice hu7nerisque rufescentibus, parce evidenter punctatis, femori- hus piceis. Long. corp. | lin. (Anglic).
Habitat Angliam.
Closely allied to A. rubricollis, Bris., from which it differs in its much shorter build, the much stronger punctuation of its elytra, which are less contracted behind, its black scutellum, almost quadrate thorax, and darker femora.
Of English species, it can only be compared with A. nigripennis, on account of its red head and thorax and black elytra ; it differs, however, from that well-marked species in its shorter and more convex build, in its thorax being longer, more convex, much less narrowed in front, with a scarcely visible basal transverse depression, and no eleva- tion before the scutellum, the less contracted lower third of its elytra, which are more strongly punctured, and have reddish humeral points and apex, and in its darker femora.
A single specimen, in my own collection.
Nanophtes gracilis, Eedt,
A specimen of the insect recorded as British by me under this name, has been returned by M. Brisout as iVl genicidatus, Aube. M. Brisout says " il est bien possible que ce soit aussi le gracilis, Eedt." I have forwarded the specimen to Dr. Eedtenbacher, who tells me that, after a careful comparison of my insect with the type of his species, he finds the two are perfectly identical.
The synonymy will therefore stand : —
Nanophyes gracilis, L. Eedtenbacher, Fauna Austriaca, Edn. 1 (1849), p. 370.
geniculafus, Aube, Ann. Soc. Ent. France, 1864, p. 327.
1*5:6.] 179
Dr. Rcdteiibachor also points out that tho reference in Gcm- minger and Von Harold's Catalogue of If. gracilis to Chevrieri, Boh, (in Schon. Cure, viii, 2, p. 193), is incorrect, since the latter insect is described as having the femora «7i?-spinose. With regard to this character, I observe that M. Henri Brisout, in his Monograph of Nanopliyes, p. 28, says of N. Chevrieri — ^'femorihus uni- aut hi-s^yinosis." This variation in an apparently important structural point is also recorded by him in several other species of the genus, and probably results from the accidental non-development of the weaker of the two spines. However this may be, N. Chevrieri, if only from its oblong-ovate form, has certainly nothing to do with N. gracilis.
Geaptodeea LO^fOicoLLis, Allard.
This species, of which the ^ has the basal joint of the anterior tarsi very much triangularly dilated, differs from ericeti, All., in its smaller size, shorter and stouter antennae, almost entirely impunctate thorax, and more finely punctured elytra, — the punctuation of the latter being very minute on a delicately shagreened ground, whereas it consists of larger and smaller punctures mixed in ericeti, in which also the thorax is, though finely, distinctly punctured all over. A ^ and $ , taken in copula, and supposed to connect the two species, are returned to me by M. Allard as certainly ^ and ? longicollis, and I also possess undoubted females of longicollis, quite distinct from ericeti. G. einceti occurs at AV'imbledon, Esher, Balcombe, Mickleham, New Forest, &c., but longicollis has not been found, so far as I know, nearer south than Chat-moss.
Or.VI'TODEEA IIELIANTHEMr, All.
This insect is in our lists, but not in our collections ; and tho supposed exponents of it are, I believe, oleracea. It is, however, not uncommon, though rather local, occurring at Chat-moss, Wimbledon, Barnes, Chatham, Cobham, Hanwell, and Ryde, almost always on Epilohium (angustifolium, especially) . Specimens from some of these localities have been returned to me as this species by M. Allard. I am indebted to Mr. J. Chappell for the only ^ that I have seen, of which the intromittent organ differs much from that of oleracea and montnna. It may readily bo known from oleracea by its more violet or dark blue colour, rather duller and comparatively shorter elytra, and narrower thorax. The specific name affords another instance of the in-
180 [January-,
advisability of attributing one plant to an insect: it was first found on Selianthemum guttatum, tlien on Poterium muricatum, and now on Epilohium.
GrEAPTODEnA OLEBACEA.
The common insect originally known to us by tbis name, and afterwards referred to pmilln, Dufts., must, according to M. AUard, who has examined some of my specimens, revert to its former appel- lation. Continental examples of oleracea sent to me by tbat authority also entirely accord with our insect. M. Allard corroborates our O. montana.
TlIYAMIS FERRUGINEA, Foudr.
This species was recorded as British by the late Mr. G. R. Crotch, but is not included in Dr. Sharp's Catalogue, on account (I presume) of the reference of Dr. Power's exponent of it to T. Waterhousii, Kuts. M. Allard, however, has returned to me as T. ferruginea two examples, one belonging to Mr. Champion (taken at Caterham, July, 1873) and another from my own collection (I have two specimens). These may readily be known from T. flavicornis and peUucida by their smaller size, and much stouter antenna", of which the five or six apical joints are blackish ; and from the latter also by their much coarser punctuation. From T. Waterhousii, in which the apical joints of the antenna) also are blackish, they may bo known by their smaller size, rather stouter antenna, and more coarsely punctured thorax and elytra, which are much nari-ower and of less gelatinous appearance.
Thyamis atriceps, cerina, and medicaginis, are corroborated as British by M. Allard.
PSTLLIODES INSTABILIS, Foudr.
Corroborated as British by M. Allard, from a specimen in my col- lection. This insect differs from P. cuprea in its smaller size, darker colour, stouter and darker legs, and more shining head and thorax, of which the punctures are not so close.
Parkfield, Putney, S.W. October, 1875.
1870.] ISl
STRAY NOTES OX THE LEPIDOVTERA OF PEMBROKE. Br C. O. BARHETT.
In removing into a new and nnworked locality, tliere is always tlic excitement of hope that, even if it do not prove very prolific of good insects, there may at any rate bo much in the way of very local species to reward energetic research ; and when that new locality is far re- moved from the well-worked districts, and seems from its physical features well suited for insect life, that hope is apt to be heightened into expectation.
I certainly experienced this feeling of hope very strongly, on coming down to this extreme western point of South "Wales early last spring, and when I began to see the natural features of the country — a fine stretch of bold rocky coast, indented here and there with sandy bays, on the south ; an inner coast (of the noble Milford Haven), parallel with it on the north ; its waveless margins lined with narrow strips of salt marsh, and backed occasionally with huge, partially ex- haiisted, quarries ; and the cultivated intermediate country, intersected with pleasant lanes, in which an unusual wealth of wild flowers grows, — expectation began to rise high, and to prepare the way for — complete disappointment.
Of Rhopalocera but few species can be expected so far west ; Lyca-na Arf/iohis flies about the holly and ivy ; and I have seen L. Ahus in the quarries, where Si/ricJithus Alveolus and Thanaos Tages occur commonly.
Avf/i/nnis Af/laia and Selene fly on the coast and over the mountain heaths, and Vaplda occasionally ventures to show itself in some deep and sheltered valley, when the sun is warm and the brambles full of blossom. Some of the common species are plentiful enough, and show a tendency to variation, which is interesting. Of Anthocharis car- daviines, I casually took a specimen which has the orange tips suffused down the nervures with blackish in a striking manner ; Lasiommata JE(jeria is dark and richly coloured ; Safijrus Tithoniis appears to exhibit additional spots in the pale portion of the, ii[)per-side of the hind wings (but this was overlooked until the species was worn out, and requires further investigation), and from the rarity of aberration among the Vanesscc, a V. lo with a pale yellowish cloud in the chocolate of ono fore wing, and Atalanta with an extra white dot appear worthy of record. JS'octiirni were few indeed ! the larger Sphinges being pro- portionately better represented than any other group, since ocellatus is reported common among willow ; Elpenor among Epilohium ; ligustri, of course, in the gardens, and stcllaiarum everywhere; Atropon
182 I January,
is said to be common in some seasonfi, in the larva and pupa states, and the larva of convolindi is sometimes found, indeed a specimen, in tlie last stage of starvation, was brought me in the autumn. It was recognizable and that was all.
Of " clear-wings " I have seen but one species — ichneumoniformis. It was swept up by accident, one day in July, when working for Tortrices, and proved to be tolerably common among Lotus cornicuJatus. It is a curious fact, that it seems almost impossible to see a specimen at rest on or among its food-plant. I fancy they must sit under the leaves or flowers, like Nemotois scahiosellus. At any rate, the only way to get them was to " sweep," and this was useless until after 6 p.m. During the forenoon or afternoon sunshine it was impossible to find a specimen on ground from which a dozen might be swept up at seven o'clock in the evening. Its flight even appears to be almost crepuscular, for the only specimen that I saw on the wing was flying rapidly over a high bank at half -past seven in the evening, and looked, in flight, like a large Tortrix. I shall not soon forget my surprise at finding what species I had captured in this manner. I have a notion that SesicB fly at an inconveniently early hour in the morning, but this crepuscular habit is new to me.
Bomhyces also are nearly absent, but a few Kola cristulalis occurred on tree trunks in May ; when also I found a solitary ,^ Diaphora mendica, and Lithosia complana and ffriseola, also singly, in July. Here again poverty of species is redeemed in some measure by variation, for a pupa of Odonestis potatoria produced a most beau- tiful chocolate coloured (J, nearly as dark as O. quercifolia.
GeometrcB are very far from numerous or valuable, but curiously enough several of the best species have appeared principally in the garden and little shrubbery at the back of the house. In May, and again in August, Lohophora viretata may often be found, more or less faded and worn, at I'est on the trunks of a couple of sycamore trees iu a sheltered corner, but really fine specimens are scarce enough, for the damp affects their colour in the day. Here also Eupithecia virgaureata, dodonceata, and coronata have occurred ; Acidalia jjromutata sits on the lime-stone rocks in the (juarries, as also does the chalk-loving Euholia hipunctaria in plenty, and Acidalia suhsericeata, Aspilates citraria, and Eupithecia ahsyntltiata are found sparingly among the herbage in the same localities ; Jlelanippe galiata is common on the outer coast, and Emmelesia affinitata not scarce in the lanes. Still, the general absence of species is remarkable ; for instance, on Juno 19th, I walked eight or ten miles through a hilly, well wooded district, with good hedges
isre. 183
and plenty of shelter, and the only QeometrcB that I saw were one Boarmia repandaria and hosts of 2IeJanippe montanata ; fortunately the repandata was the y:iv.Jimhriata, and some of the viontnnata were fine dark barred varieties, but the barrenness in insects of such a country at such a time, is perfectly astounding.
I think I could write a long and interesting chapter on the Noctuas that do not occur here, — but ought to. I have not been able yet to work the outside cliffs, and there may be something there, but at present the record is meagre.
The attractive qualities of the red valerian {Gentrantlius ruber) to Noctu(B are well known. The hills of waste material in some of the great quarries by the Haven are covered with it, so are the old walls all along the back of the town, so is the railway embankment for hundreds of yards (looking splendid from the mingling of large masses of the white variety with the red flowers), and the result is— exclamationis ! ! I went down to the quarries one evening in June to collect at these flowers : dusk came, and Noctuae, flyiiig ^'^ Noctiue will fly when they throw off their day's lethargy ; I caught one — exclama- tiorus, — I caught another — ditto, — I caught a third — the same, — there was no need to catch any more, they were swarming all around me, and all the same. I never saw such numbers before. I waited till after dark, and swept the valerian flowers — exclamationis in hundreds, — everything else was discouraged ; segetum hardly ventured to show its face ; a single cortieea was a grand capture. Further attempts did not mend matters ; exdnmalionis was more abundant than ever, and when it began in the course of nature to die out, was succeeded by Xylo- phasia polyodun in such countless hordes that collecting became positively wearisome. In all the hosts of polyodon I did not see a dark variety even. What valerian floAvers may furnish in the future is problematical, this year they produced nothing but disgust !
I tried raking the sand-hills in the bays of the outer coast — Tenby, Manorbier, &c. — and took two Mamestra albicolon, and two Leucania littoralis, that was all ; not another Noctua worth boxing. Of course, there were Melanippe (jaJiata and sundry OelechicB and Depressarice ; but of the teeming abundance of Af/rotis, for instance, usually found in sucli situations, there was not one, not even tritici ! Two or three pupa; did tumble out one day from among the over- hanging roots, and in due time produced Epiinda lichenen, but even this species did not appear to shelter in the perfect state under the banks.
The autumn Noctuce may have come to an untimely end — by water — I cannot say. I have certainly seen one Luperina ccspitis at a
ISJ. [January,
gas lamp, but llie abundance of ivy which crowns many of the old walls, and fills the hedges, has not as yet produced a single insect worth boxing. When I say that all I have seen upon it have been two or three Phlogojjhora meficulosa, Xanthia ferruginea^ and Flusia gnnwia ; that the only moth seen flying along the road for a month past was a solitary Orthosia lota, and that gas lamps produce nothing but a heart- broken Antliocelis pistacina or two ; I think I have expressed the lowest depths of poverty and degradation to which an unhappy entomological locality could well be reduced.
Of Pyralidce and Gmmhina I have little to tell. The one new Pyralis was not kept in countenance by any other species worth taking. Odd specimens of an early brood of Scopula ferrugalis ap- peared in June ; this I have only once before noticed. The Cram- hina were a little better. Homoeosoma sinuella appeared at Tenby in June ; and in August I found what I believe to be its larva? in heads of various thistles. JI. saxicola also appeared sparingly in the quarries with Oncocera ahenella, and Pempelia marmorecB. Anerastia lotclla w'as of course common on the coast sand-hills; and a salt marsh pro- duced a single Cramhus containinellus. The eternal wind along the Haven makes these salt marsh insects very difficult to disturb.
Of Pterophori, microdacfylus^jing among EuiJatorium in the evening, and the larvae of lithodactylus reducing to skeletons the leaves of Inula conyza, were almost the only species noticed.
Nearly all that I have so far remarked upon has belonged to the coast district of mountain limestone, but thirty miles up the country is a very different region of wild mountain heaths, where a few local species are, I expect, to be found in plenty. Driving along the flank of Preselly Mountain, at the end of May, I saw Melanippe tristata commonly, and at the sheltered side of a bank found Coccyx vacciniana flying in abundance in the sun, and settling on the Vaccinium plants so quietly that I was able, wath no apparatus but a few pill boxes, to secure a dozen specimens in a few^ minutes ; a month later tristata was still out, and now accompanied by Acidalia fumata and Cidaria populata, but vacciniana had disappeared, and the only Tortrices of interest to be seen w^ere a very fine Amphysa Gerningana and the small grey variety of Sericoris lacunana, which was formerly mistaken for rupestrana.
I saw there what I do not think is very common, the three forms of the pretty little milkwort {Polygala vulgaris) — red, white, and blue, — all growing on one bank, and united to some extent by intermediate variations.
PoDibrokc : yovember, 1875.
i«'6) 185
DKSCRIPTIOX OF TWO XEW EXOTIC ACULEATE IIYMEyOPTERA, OF TlIK FAMILIES TIIYNNIDJE AND CRABROHIDJE.
BY C. RITSEMA.
-ELUEUa FLAVO-PICTUS, Sp. rt.
Male. Length 12 mm. ; alar expanse, 18 miu.
Black ; tlie apex of tlio clypeus (terminating a longitudinal central carina), the little lobe at the base of the cheeks, an interrupted line between the insertion of the antennae (bordering on elevation), and anotlier on the anterior margin of the pro- thorax, the central portion of the tegulse, the po8t-scutollum, and the apical spines of the tibise and of the joints of the tarsi, pale yellow ; a spot a little before the tips of the mandibles, some spots on the abdomen beneath, and the claws of the tarsi, roddish-brown.
The head and thorax closely and strongly punctui'cd, thinly covered with cinereous pubescence ; head transverse, wider than the thorax, the posterior margin of the cheeks fringed with long silvery hairs ; the face before the insertion of the antenna; with a whitish pubescence ; the thorax attenuated behind, the scutellum gibbous, the metathorax rounded ; the wings hyaline, clouded at the apex, the stigma and nervures black ; the coxre, tibiro, and tarsi closely covered with short, the femora thinly with long, grey pubescence ; the claws of the tarsi bifid.
The abdomen depressed and petiolated, smooth, and shining, veiy sparingly covered with fine punctures and cinereous hairs ; the first segment a little swollen at the apex, the second with an impression at the base, and, as well as the four fol- lowing, with two faint tubercles a little before the liind border ; the ventral scale of the apical segment terminating in a trifid mucro.
Five malea sent by the Baron vou liosonbcrg from Aru, four of which are in the Leyden Museum, the fifth in Mr. F. Smith's col- lection.
In addition to this species, the ij;enus ^Jurus, K^ug {Taclnjnomia, Guer.) is represented in the Eastern Archipelago by two other species, viz., ^lurus co/iiifua, Smith, from Waigiou, and JElurus fragllis, Smith, from ^lortai.
PSEN ORX ATI'S, sp. 11.
Female. Length, 10 mm. ; alar expanse, 15 mm.
Head and thorax black, adorned with yellow ; abdomen red.
The head black, smooth, and shining, impunctate, with a sharp ciirina between the antenntc ; the face before the antenncc and the cheeks covered with silvery pu- bescence ; the mandibles yellow with brown tips ; the antennao rather long and slender, the scape yellow, the llagellum fuscous above, pale ferruginous beneath, becoming fuscous towards the apex.
The thorax black, above smooth and shining, with some very tine puucturea, the sides somewhat opaque and, as well as the thorax beneath, thinly covered with whitish hairs ; the metathorax coarsely rugose ; the prothorax yellow above, the mesothorax with two parallel lines not reaching the scutellum, the tegulte, a spi.'t before the base of tlie wing", two spots on the seutellura, and the post-scutellum.
180 [JaniKirj-,
yellow ; the luetathorax with four longitudinal oval tcUow spots ; the wings hyaline,
the stigma and nervures brown, the neuration as in figure ; the anterior and intermediate legs yellow, the coxae and the femora and tibise behind spotted with brown ; the posterior pair brown, with the tip of the coxae, the second half of the femora beneath,
and the base, and the apical spines of the tibiae, yellow.
The abdomen smooth and shining, red, with the second half of the petiole and
the apical segment beneath dark brown.
A eiugle female, captured by Mr. Hekmeyer near Mount Ardjoens (East Java), in the collection of the Ley den Mu^lcum.
This is the third species of the genus Psen from the Eastern Archipelago, Mr. F. Smith having described a species {Psen erraticus) from Macassar, and another {Psen petiolntus) from Mysol.
Leydcn : Octoler, 1875.
AN ADDITION TO THE LIST OF BRITISH EEMIPTERA. BY EDWARD SAUNDERS, E.L.S.
Lopus suLCATUs, Eieb., Eur. Hem., 268, 4. Black ; a spot on each side of the head near the eye j dorsal line and the sides of the thorax in front, the centre of the seutellum, the sides of the corium in front, and the cuneus (except at the apex), pale ochreous, the latter suffused with orange colour outwardly ; membrane, in developed specimens, black.
Easily distinguished from our other species by the following cha- racters : from gothlcus by the shorter pubescence, in the absence of the long hairs on the thighs and antennae, the narrower form, the thorax constricted in front and its sides more sinuate, by the sulcate seutellum, as well as by the pale (not red) cuneus and seutellum : from mat, Rossi, by the pilose elytra, the constricted thorax (which has the sides only pale in front), the sulcate seutellum, and the thighs without pale bands. Long. 2J — 3 lines.
Portsmouth (Moncreaff), also at Slapton.
I have had a bad example of this species in my collection for some time, but have not hitherto brought it forward, not feeling sure that it was the true L. sulcutus ; but lately I have had an opportunity of seeing Dr. Eieber's type in M. Lethierry's collection, and am satisfied that (Hir insect belongs to his species. It has been found by INIr. Mon- creaif at Portsmouth, both in the developed form with the entire membrane, and also without. I have found the species not rarely on the Continent near Tours.
2, Spencer Park, Wandsworth :
December Ist, 1875. •
1S76.) 1,S7
Note on the halitat of Dicranoneura citrinella.— In September hist I again found this species common in the gravel-pit at Blackheath, where I originally took it, and traced it without a doubt to Teucriuiii scorodonia. — J. W. Douglas, ]jce : December 6t/i, 1S75.
On the metamorphoses of Meloe cicalricosiis and Cantharis vesicatoria. — Sr. Lichtenstein, in a letter dated 14th August, communicated to the Societe entomo- logique de Belgique, says that he was unable to give the continuation of the history of Meloe cicatricosus, the larva having died in its second form without changing ita skin (vide ante p. 136). But he goes on to say : —
" On the other hand I have had the pleasure, this morning, to obtain the second form of the larva of Cantharis vesicatoria by means almost the same as those em- ployed with the Meloe. In this instance the " triungulins " were not yellow like those of Meloe, but black with a white cincture (the last two thoracic annulations, and the first ventral segment, are white). The second larva form is soft and white, hexapod, and very like that of Meloe." — [From the Compte-Rendu de la Societe entomologique de Belgique, 2nd October, 1875].
" Ralesus d iff it at tis."— In the months of September (end), October, and Novem- ber (beginning), large Trichopterous insects of rather pallid (testaceous) colour, with somewhat striated anterior-wings, are not uncommon in the vicinity of streams in Britain, and even in the neighbourliood of London they may be seen on the gas- lamps. These have been commonly known by the name at the head of this note, and under this name they have been noticed by all the most modern writers on Tri- choptera (including myself), without the least idea that more than one species was included under the term. This hallucination must come to an end. Having been recently engaged upon the genus Ilalesus for my "Revision and Synopsis of European Trichoptera," a somewhat disagreeable fact has forced itself upon me, viz., that three thoroughly distinct species are included under the name ; and, moreover, that two of them occur in Britain, and are probably equally common. Which may be con- sidered the real dijitatus depends upon information to be received from Austria, for the name is one of Schrank's, in his " Enumeratio," and thus should naturally bo reserved for the most common Austrian form. Any way it is satisfactory to know that (according to evidence furnished by types) no newly coined names will (apparently) be required. Reserving the application of the term diyitatus for the moment : — No. 1 is radiatus, (Leach) Curtis, = diffitatu.t, Steph. (j^arlim), =- inlerpunclatu.1,
Zctt. No. 2 is tensellatus, Rambur (aeeurding to type), — dijilatus, Erauer (?), and Walser
(according to type). No. 3 is hieroglyphicus, Curtis, = diffitatus, Steph. (parlim).
No8. 1 and 2 extremely resemble each other in general appearance, and are to bo (apparently) separated only by the anal characters. Li radiatus (wliieh is possibly the true diffitatus) the inferior appendages of the (J are blunt, black, and broadly sinuate at the apex: it is the most common northern species. In tessellat us the inferior appendages are long, somewhat lanceolate, slightly curved, aeuto ; it appears to be Central European (not occurring in Britain). Jlierofflyphicus is generally
18S [January,
largor than the others, paler (more testaceous) in colour, and with the wings longer and less obtuse ; the inferior appendages broadly furcate. In Britain, this is probably equally common with No. 1, but is possibly less generally distributed.
It was gratifying to me to find that a new correspondent (Mr. F. Q-. Binnie, of Glasgow), who informed me that he worked only from boots, had detected the differeuces in the two British species. — R. McLachlan, Lewisham : Uh December, 1875.
Sphinx convolvuli in BertoicJcshire.—On the loth August I netted a fine speci- men of Sphinx convolvuli which was flying over some carnations in a garden. I observed another there about a week after, but only for two or three seconds, as it flew over a high wall and disappeared. Another specimen of this fine moth flew into a draper's shop in a village near there some time ago ; it was sadly worn. On the sign-board of the same shop, one evening in September, an entomological friend of mine caught a most beautiful specimen of the same moth by putting a paper bag under it and pushing it in. That night, as I was walking with my friend down the street of a small town near the same place, we saw a crowd collected before a shop window, and soon found the cause of it. A large Death's Head Hawk Moth (Achero7itia Atrojws) had flown in, been caught by the shopman, and imprisoned in a glass bottle. My friend purchased it, and set it. Though slightly rubbed, still it forms an excellent specimen.— W. Sandison, 43, Govan Road, Glasgow.
l^uropean and exotic Lepiidopfera. — Dr. Staudinger has sent me a packet of his priced Catalogues for distribution. I shall be happy to send one of these Catalogues to any entomologist who may wish for one. I may observe that it would seem to bo much more sensible to buy a typical continental specimen of Notodonta hicolora for eight pence, than to give four or five pounds for an English specimen of more than doubtful authenticity; but I am aware that tastes differ on this point. — -R.C.R. JouDAN, 35, Harborne Road, Edgbaston, Birmingham : December 8th, 1875.
Entomological Society of London: 1st December, 1875. — SirS. S. Safndees, C.M.G., President, in the Chair.
T. Chapman, Esq., of Glasgow, was elected a Subscriber.
Mr. Forbes exhibited specimens of Zygcena JilipendulcB in which the usual red spots and hind-wings were changed to yellow. He had bred these, although only one or two appeared among myriads of the ordinary form, and was quite sure that the variation was in every way natural, and not caused by extraneous circumstauc
Mr. Champion exhibited now or rare British species of Anisotoma : these were already noticed, with others, by Mr. Rye in the December number of the Ent. Mo. Mag.
Jfr. "W. Cole exhibited beautiful drawings of dipterous larvfc found on the shore at Southend ; also the larvfc and perfect insects in spirits. They apparently jicr- tained to the genus Ephedra.
The President remarked that M. Lichtenstein, of Montpellier, had recently obtained Zonites prcettsta and EucJialcis vetusta from Osmia tridentata, making thirteen parasites known to exist at the expense of that species {cf. ante, p. 71).
Dr. Burmcister, of Buenos Ayres, communicated a description of a new genus and species of Scarttid<v, under the generic name of Obadins, from the river Uruguay.
187t>.] IS9
DESCRirXIONS OF FIVE NEW, OR LITTLE KXOWN, SPECIES OF BRITISH TENTUREBINIDJE.
BY P. CAMERON, JUN^.
Nemati's flavipejjwis, sp. n. N. niger, nifidiis, hreviusculus, crassiusculus ; facie inferne, orhitis oculoriim late, teguTis, pronoti anguUs, ano, ventre pro parte, pedibusque rufo-jiavis ; alls Jlavescentihus . Long. 1\ — 1\ I'm.
? . Antennae longer than the tliorax and abdomen, black, bare, almost shining ; 3rd and 4th joints nearly equal ; tlie remaining joints a little shorter, and tapering towards the apex. Head with frontal sutures vci-y distinct, punctured in front, the part between the antennae strongly projecting ; black, the face (including the portion between the antennae) and the eyes (especially behind) broadly surrounded with reddish-yellow ; mandibles deep brown. Thorax black, shining ; the pronotum edged with obscure yellow; cenchri large, white. Abdomen broad, dilated towards the middle, the apex bluntly pointed ; the colour black, smooth and shining ; the anus and ventral surface in the centre reddish-yellow. Cerci moderately long, pale yellow, their apices pointing inwardly ; saw slightly projecting. Feet reddish-yellow ; coxae partly, and femora at base, more or less marked with black ; the three last joints of posterior tarsi fuscous. Wings ample, strongly iridescent, yellowish ; ncrrvires, costa and stigma reddish-yellow ; 2nd sub-marginal cellule nearly double the length of the 3rd, which is scarcely dilated at the apex ; 2nd recurrent nervure received a little in front of the 2nd sub-marginal.
This species agrees very closely with the dcscriptiou of N. hracliij- notus, Foerster, Yerh. pr. lihcinl., 1854, p. 295, pi. 5, fig. 13, but must be different, as that species is considerably larger, has brownish tarsi, shorter antennae, " ein wenig kurzer, uamentlich als der Iliuterleib," and in the rather long descrii^tion no mention is made of the wings being yellowish. Of the British species it has the greatest reseinblniico to N. Zetterstcdti, \)h\n., = miniatus,l[lig.,h\\i it is also larger, and has the belly com])letcly red, ■« ith the posterior tarsi black.
One specimen, taken in June at lianuocli, and two at Kingussie; in ])(»1h places by sweeping in marshy ground.
Nematus haccaeiim, sp. n.
Niger, snhnitidns, ore, pronoti liviho, teguJis, conta, stigvmte, pedi- busque albidis ; ano testaceo ; alis hyalinis. Long, fere 1}^ I in.
? . Antennae shorter than the body, comparatively thick, tapering towards the apex ; (lie colour black, obscure brown at apex ; the 3rd and 4th joints about equal ; the last joint tliinner, and apparently a little longer than the 8th. Head black, shining, the vertex finely punctured ; the labrum and clypeus partly white ; man- dibles blaeki.sh ; on the lower side tlierc is a broad pale ring surrounding the eyes. Tliorax black, sliining ; mesonotum finely punctured ; pronotum thinly edged with
1 90 (January,
white ; tcgulsD white. Abdomen obscure block, the anal segment above, and the ventral surface, more or less pale testaceous ; cerci white, projecting outwardly ; sheaths of the saw projecting, hairy. Feet white ; coxse blact at base ; femora, at base, obscured with fuscous ; posterior tarsi longer than the tibiee, and very faintly fuscous. Wings hyaline ; costa and stigma white ; nervures pale ; 3rd sub-marginal cellule dilated at apex ; 2nd recurrent nervure received about the length of a fourth of the size of the 2nd sub-marginal cellule in front of the 2nd sub-marginal nervure.
This species belongs to a veiy obscure group of saw-flies ; and if I did not know its early stages, I would not have undertaken its description. It comes nearest to the descriptions of -ZV". helicinus and N. crassij^es, Thorns., from both of which its much smaller size, and white legs and stigma, well serve to distinguish it ; and the 2nd recurrent nervure being placed at some distance in front of the 2nd Bub-marginal, affords another good mark of separation.
I bred it from a berry-shaped gall of a greyish-green colour, covei'ed closely with fine white hairs, which Dr. White sent me from the neighbourhood of Dunkeld, where it was found by him on the leaves of a willow — what species I do not know ; but the leaves were not unlike those of SaJix aurifa. The larva was white, with the head obscure fuscous ; eye-spots black ; mouth brown ; and the segments projected considerably. Previous to pupation, I noticed that the end of the body Avas rather sharply pointed ; the colour was dirty white. They fed up to the end of October, when their cocoons were spun, attached to the bottom of the breeding jar. They did not make a hole for the expulsion of the frass, which is very fine and powdery. Neither did they, previous to spinning, become of a slate colour — thus differing from the larvae of helicinus.
The pupa is white. The imago made its appearance on the 1st May, about two weeks after becoming a pupa.
Nematus ceassipes, Thoms., var. tacciniellus. Cam.
? . Antenufc shorter than the body, black, stout, very slightly tapering towards the apex ; 3rd and 4th joints equal. Head black, finely punctured on the vertex ; sutures distinct ; mouth and eyes (especially behind) surrounded with pale testaceous ; mandibles brown. Thorax black, shining ; tegulas white ; pronotum broadly edged with white ; parapsides shining, in certain lights seen to be covered with a fine down ; cenchri pale white. Abdomen black ; apex mucronate ; cerci moderately long, white ; anal segment pilose ; above, and the last three segments at the sides, and underneath, dirty testaceous. Feet whitish-testaceous, covered with whitish down ; posterior tarsi shorter than the tibite ; last tarsal joints fuscous. Wings hyaline ; costa and stigma white ; nervures pale fuscous ; the 2nd recmTent nervure nearly joined to the 2nd sub-marginal. The femora have a fuscous tinge in the mhldle. Length, 2 lines.
The (J has the antennae longer than in the 9 , and also pilose ; the coxeb and
ISTG 1 101
femora for the greater part bluek ; posterior tarsi black ; and the abdomen above is brownish at tlie junction of the segments. The head is quite black, with the mouth obscure testaceous.
This iusect was bred by Mi*. C. Ileuly (to wlioni I aui indebted for specimeus) from galls on Vaccinium ritis-khea, found by Mr. Eedle in Scotland ; and has been referred by INIr. Newman to liis Eintm gallce. Mr. Newman, of course, ouglit to be well acquainted with his own species ; but, so far as his description goes, it is not detailed enough to enable this, or indeed any species, to be identified with it, at least with any certainty ; and it therefore must be entirely ignored. It agrees tolerably well with Thomson's description of cras- sipes, except that his species has not the eyes surrounded with luteous, and no mention is made of the pronotum being white. Crassipes was split off by Thomsom from the N. helicinus of Brischke ; and he quotes Brischke's account of the gall-making habits of his species for cras- sipes, and not for helicinus, although that is also described. If crassipes has actually been bred from willow-galls on Salix helix, then I think it highly probable that the Scotch insect is distinct ; but, in the absence of types, and of definite information regarding the early stages of crassipes, I think it safest in the meantime to consider it as a variety only. Should it ultimately prove to be distinct, I propose the name of vacciniellus for it.
I may add that neither Thomson's description of helicinus nor of crassipes agrees with a specimen of helicinus = vesicator, Bremi, which I received from Herr Brischke.
Nemattjs SuAiirr, sp. n.
N. niqer, nitidus, antennis siihtus et orhitis oculorum riifescentihus ; ore, pronoli, stigmateque ulhidis, 2^edihus ruj'o-teslaceis, alts hj/alinis.
Long. 2\ lin.
? . Antenna! about the length of the body, black, underneath reddish, especially at the apex, where they taper considerably ; the 3rd and Ith joints equal. Head . with the vertex finely punctured, black, slightly surrounded with reddish-browi jij^Yq well as a spot between the antenntc ; mouth, iucluding half the elypcus, ^ l-irvc clypeus moderately arched ; mandibles brownish. Thorax black, pronotui.,. , . white, mesonotum slightly punctured, covered with a short whitish down, sideways ; parapsides covered also with down ; cenchri small. Abdomen s. broad, about the size of the head and thorax, apical half abruptly tt^j-^- to great faintly pale, hairy ; cerci long, pale whitish, pointing outwardly i sections will Feet reddish-testaceous, coxa; and trochanters paler, posterior tarsi q all bc cas'ily than the tibise. Wings clear hyaline, costa and stigma whitish, th faint border of brown on the under-side ; nervures pale, 2nd recui considerably in front of the 2nd sub-marginal.
192 .Tanuary, 1870.
In the structui'e o£ the wiugs and anteunre, iV". Sharpi resembles iV^. appendiculatus, Htg., but it is easily known from it by the shorter body, more abruptly pointed abdomen, half white clypeus, and eyes surrounded with red. In form, it is not unlike N. flavipennis, but the eyes are only slightly surrounded with brown, the wings arc clear hyaline, with the stigma white, and there is no black on the femora.
Taken by Dr. David Sharp, probably in Scotland, the exact locality I do not know.
EaiOCAMPA ^THIOPS.
In the Entomologist's Annual for 1862, and previously in the Gardener's Chronicle for 1848, Prof. AVestwood describes the trans- formations of a saw-fly wliich he calls Selanclria ccthiops, Fab. Until the present year this rose-feeding species was an enigma to me, and no doubt also to others ; but in August, Mr. J. E. Fletcher of Wor- cester very kindly sent me botb the imagos and larvae, and on consulting the above mentioned works I had no difficulty in identifying them with West wood's insect. I am not, howevei', equally sure that it is the true cBtliiops, for, altbough. it agrees with, tbe description so far as it goes, yet so do also other species of Selandria {sensu lat.), as well as another species I have of Eriocampn. In this state of matters, my first intention was to regard it as a new species, but I have thought it perhaps better for th.e present to treat it as tlie cethlops of Fabricius. Fabricius described his species from an English insect in the Banksian cabinet, but unfortunately it is not now there, as Mr. F. Smith informs me, the type having been either lost or destroyed. Mr. Smith also tells me that there is an Eriocnmpa in Stephens' collection bearing the MS. name of consorta, wbicli is very like, if not actually identical with, tbe present insect. The rose insect is a true Eriocampa, and to avoid any more confusion, I now recharacterize it, and I can only express a
^^ope that there will be no further ambiguity about it : — the a^t
sutures dis. Eriocampa jethiops, Fabricius.
maudibles 1
with -wliite '^^S'^'^t i^itida, genuhiis, tibiis, tarsisque 4:-anticis alhidis ; alls
cencliri p.T Hs- Long. l|-2 lin.
anal 8cginciit{j...Tg |;q t}jg section comprising cinxia, Klug, atratuJa (Dbm.),
c ir y OS accous. gg^dQgjpgg^ Cam. Cinxia has all the tibia? white at tbe
, . cetJiiops the four anterior tibia? along with the tarsi are
etigiua white ; ii -^ _ _
2nd 8ub-mareir '^ posterior black, except that the knees are a little paler ; The <J hf ■ easily known from it by Its testaceous hinder tibia? and
Fobnuiry, 1870.] 193
tarsi. Atratula 1 do not kno\Y ; but, as it is described aa having only the anterior tibitc luteous, it can scarcely be confounded witli our insect. The wings in cethlops are darker at the base, and do not differ essentially from those of testaceipes -. in cinxia the wings are darker in the middle. It is unnecessary to distinguish it from E. annulipes, varipes, and adumbrata, as they are readily known by having two middle cellules in the posterior wings, while in the present species and its allies there is only one cellule.
In the same papers, Prof. Westwood states that E. cethiops is distinct from the cetliiops of Klug and Hartig, which is a, Blcnnocavijm, and he further mentions that the slimy larvje of the pear (commonly called in England " Selandria cerasi,'' notwithstanding that the cerasi of Linne has luteous legs) pertain to the Selandria atra of Stephens. I do not mean to question the accuracy of this observation, and it is likely enough that «^r« is really attached to the pear ; but my own ob- servations (agreeing with those of continental observers) undoubtedly lead me to conclude that the common gai'den pest is, in point of fact, the Eriocampa adumbrata of King. According to Thomson (Hymen. Scand., i, 213), the cEtliiops of Klug is a variety of Blennocampa epJiip- pium, Pz., with the pronotnm black ; and I believe he is quite correct. Until I see Stephens' types of atra, I can say nothing definite regarding it. I recommend the careful breeding of the slimy larvae of the pear and plum trees to those who may have the opportunity of doing so, and thus settle once and for all the question whether they belong to species other than Eriocampia admnhrata, and if so, to ascertain how the larvae of the different species may be distinguished from one another.
To Professor AVestwood's account of the habits of cethiops, I can add nothing, beyond confirming it ; but I may mention that Mr. Pletchcr's larvae remained eighteen months and mine two years in the cocoons before changing.
I have bred E. annulipes from slimy larvae on Salix viminalis, and Mr. Fletcher bred E. varipes from like larvae on the oak. "We have thus in Eriocampa three different kinds of larva?, namely : slimy larvae like those of adumbrata, the yellowish-green slimcless larva of cethiops, and the white flaky larva of ovata.
Ilartig's system of genera and sub-gcncra is apt to lead to groat confusion, and I hope that for the future his named sections will be regarded as distinct genera, more especially as they can all be eacily made out.
G-lasgow : November, 1875.
19 i [Fcbniary,
DESCEIPTIONS OF TWO NEW BRITISH ICHNEUM0NIB2E.
BY THE EEV. T. A. MARSHALL, M.A., F.L.S.
Mr. Cameron has requested me to describe the following insects, which I some time ago returned to him as new species.
LiMXEKIA CROCEIPES, n. SJ).
Zi. parum nitida, alutacea, suhtiUter sericea, nigra ; antennarum scapo stihhis rnfescente ; ore, mandihulis, palpis, alarum radice, squamulis jjcdibusque Icete Jlavis ; coxl.i anterioribus hasi rufescentibus, femorilus anterioribiis fulvo tinctia ; coxis femoribusqve posticis nigris ; tibiis posHcis apice fusco-rujis ; alls stih-hyalinis, st'ig- mate et nervisfuscis, his basin versus Jlavidis ; terebra breviter exserta.
$ . Long. 2 J lin.
Caput transversum, pone oculos angustatum. Oculi jxixta antenna- rum insertionem levissime tantum emarginati. Antenoice apice mutilatce. Thorax capite anguslior, sat robusfus, laterihus parce alhido-sericeus, alutaceus ; metathorace ruguloso^ medio haud excavato, areis duahus su- perioribus lateralibus tantum distinctis. Abdomen apice i?iodice com- pressum, segmento V'^° p>^^^'''^''- posticorum coxis cum trochunteribus longi- tudine su,bcequali ; postpetiolo transverso, parum convexo ; segmento 2''" Jiaud longiore quam lufiore, r/astrocoelis pellucidis ; terebra sursuin cur- vata, testacea, abdomine haud altiore. AJce areola nulla ; nervo radiali externa recto ; transverso anali haud fracto. Z^nguiculi non pectinati.
From Cadder Wilderness.
It belongs to Holmgren's Sec. II, Div. 1, Sub-div. 2. As this gi'oup is of veiy limited extent, and immediately recognisable by the want of the areolet, there is little difficulty in determining this species to be new.
Bassus pekonatus, n. sp.
S. nitidtdus, punviidahis, metatJioracis area superomedia elerafa, acute margi- nata ; abdominis segmento 1'"" laio, antice depresso, parum angusiaio,carinulis 2}(iuIo ultra medium extensis ; alarum nervo transverso anali longe infra medium fracto ; niger, alarum squamulis alb id is ; pectore pedibusque fulvo-rufis ; femoribus posticis fuscis; tibiis posticis {basi exetnpta), tarsisque posticis, nigris; scutello testaceo, fusco trimaculato. ? . Long. 2 J lin.
Caput transversum, thorace latius ; fades deplanata, canalicula media nulla, tota nigra. AntenncB corpori longitudine cequales, nigro- -fuscce, subtus testacece. Thorax nitidus, angustior quam apiid B. peeto- ratorium ; scutdhim elevatum, testaceum, elevatione media maculisque duabus latrruUbus elongatis fuscis ; pleurce nigrcE ; metathorax rugosus, urcis circitcr quatuor distinctis. Abdomen cnpite cum thorace haud
Wr,.: 195
lungius, parum nitidnm, segmento l'"" cceteris omnino simlli ; gegmentis omnibus post ice exalhido suhtiliter marginatce. Fedes postici incrassati.
This species, liaviug no transverse impressions ontlie anterior ab- dominal segments, no areolet of the wings, and the metathorax dis- tinctly areated, is to be referred to Holmgren's Sect. II, A, a, a. It can only be confounded with B.pecforaforius, Gr., but diKers in having the pleur® black, the metathorax areated, &c. The name perouaf us is meant to express the booted appearance of the hind legs. Bred by Mr. Cameron from the larvae of JVemafus cadderensis ; see p. 127 of this volume.
Among the insects sent to me by this acute and indefatigable investigator of the economy of saw-flies, it is worthy of remark that two specimens of Eumesius crassicornis, Gr. ((j^ ?), occur, a rarity unnoticed here, I believe, since the time of Curtis.
An external parasite on the larva? of Ncmatus viminalis, L., which Mr. Cameron sends for identification, is Ichneutes reunitor, Nees, var. hrevis, Wesm. The specimens before me are only one-third of the size of the typical reunitor, with darker legs and palpi, the metathorax with one elongate sub-triangular area, the radial nerve straight, and the smooth space on the pleurae rather larger. Notwithstanding these differences, "Wesmael was of opinion that his hreois was not specifically distinct from the reunitor of Nees (see Nouv. Mem. Ac. Brux., 1838, p. 15G). I suspect that this opinion is erroneous, but further obser- vations alone can settle the question. Mr. Cameron informs me that he has reared the typical reunitor from the larva) of Cladius p>adi, L. It is noteworthy, as to the distribution of these parasites, that speci- mens of the var. hrevis, Wesm., were brought from AVide Bay, Spitz- bergen, by the Rev. A. E. Eaton.
Lastiugham, Picktriiif^:
December Iblh, 1875.
.NOTES ON SOME BRITISn DOLIcnOPODTD.E, WITH DESC'RirilONS OE XKW SrECIES.
BY U. II. V Kit HALL.
fcoulinued from jinge 118.)
PonrilYROI'H SIMPLEX, sp. n.
<J ?. JI'jUcus, nitidu.i, facie aJbidd; al ulisflavido-alhidi.s, alhido-cilittti;; ; pedihus flavldis, coxis nigris, feworihus anieriorihus aut vigris (<J), aut obscuris C^) apice flavidis, posticis apicc nigris {S) aut obscuris C^), iibiis modicc sedgeris ; alts cinereo-hgalinis. Long. 2 liii.
IDG [February.
(?. Facie angustissimd, albidd, fronte ccerzileo-viridi, palpis nirjro-setosis, barbd albidd ; tarsis aniicis subsimplicibus, articulo basali vix apiee incras- sato et vix curvato, articulis tribus proximis longitudine subcBquali ; hypopygii lamellis eloiigatis.
?. Cupreo, facie fronteque albidis ; coxis anticis fiavidis, basi cinereis, tibiis posticis apice ohscuris.
(? . A rather small species, slightly smaller than P. consohrinus, Zett. ; arista nearly twice as long as the third joint of the anteunse, the latter being about three times longer than broad ; eyes conspicuously hairy, ■with brownish-yellow hairs ; face extremely narrow, almost touching in the middle, white just above and below that point ; frons shining blue-green, with a whitish sheen ; palpi small, concealed, but the rigid black bristles at their tips conspicuous ; beard whitish, the single cilia round the upper part of the eyes black. Thorax shining green, scutellum a little bluish, breast-sides slightly silvery ; abdomen duller green, with a slight silvery sheen, most conspicuous on the third, fourth, and fifth segments, the bristly pu- bescence rather dense, black, the hairs about the basal corners white ; appendages long strap-shaped, slightly bristly ; alulse dull whitish-yellow, with white fringes, halteres whitish-yellow. Legs yellow, cox« black, front pair clothed with black bristles, anterior femora black, yellow at the tip, hind pair black at the tip, and for nearly half their length on the upper side, front femora rather bristly, especially on the basal half beneath, front tibise bearing several bristles outside, just above and about the middle, basal joint of tarsi nearly as long as the next three joints, a little bent, slightly thickest and most bristly about the middle, and with very minute erect hairs beneath, the second joint very slightly bent, and all the joints gradually di- minishing in length ; middle coxse with a tuft of black bristles at the end almost like a spine, middle femora rather pubescent, with two or three bristles near the tip, tibiaj bearing about three pairs of large black bristles on the upper half outside, about which the small bristles are absent, inside below the middle is, as usual, one bristle, basal joint of tarsi as long as, or slightly longer than the next two, all yellowish except the last ; hind femora with one small bristle near the tip, tibia) with one bristle outside about one-eighth the length from the base, and two or three others just about the middle not very conspicuous, just below which is a small denuded space, apex with two bristles outside, tarsi black, second joint longer than the first, third slightly shorter than first, fourth and fifth together slightly longer than third. Wings brownish-hyaline, discoidal vein distinctly bent and approxi- mating, but parallel towards end.
? . Coppery, sides whitish, face and frons white, the latter with a greenish ground colour, face rather narrow, sides nearly parallel, palpi whitish, with a few black bristles ; legs yellow, coxae blackish-grey, front pair yellowish with the base grey, bearing three black bristles at the tip, and a yellow one above, front femora dusky above, middle femora with one or two long black bristles near tiie tip, bristles on the anterior. tibiae almost as in the male, hind femora dusky above at the tip, hind tibiae rather more bristly than in the male, slightly darkened at the tip.
Of the British species of Porphyrops, pectinatus is distinguished by its black face and beard, stronger a^d more regular pubescence on
1876.] 197
the front femora, &c., and consohriniis by the pale hairs behind the front femora, and its entirely black hind femora, while both have different front tarsi ; fascipes and spinicoxus have a black face and beard ; crassipes has dilated middle tarsi ; antennatus has a capitate arista ; ehganiidus is larger, with yellow anterior femora and blue tip to the abdomen ; nemorum is smaller, with longer antennne, black hind legs and more bristly front tibia? ; gravipes has black hind legs, and the following species, tennis, has white-haired coxa; and femoi'a, and yellow middle femora, while I think the diagnosis will distinguish it from any recognized continental species.
I caught one male and two females near Box Hill some years ago on September 5th ; I think they were found on some stones on a flattish bank running out into the river Mole, near Burford Bridge.
P. TExris, n. sp.
$ . Cupreo-ccneus, angustua, facie candidA, subangustd, barhd alba ; alulis albo-ciliatis ; pedihus luteis, coxis nigris, albo-pilosis,femoribus aniicis nigris, albo-pilosis, post ids apice nigris, unispiinosis, tihiis modice setigeris, posticis 7iigris, tarsis anticis subsimplicibus, articulo basali apice vix incrassato, arti- culis reliquis longitiidine suhaqtiali ; hypopygii lamellis latis ; alis brun- neacentibus. Long. 2\ lin.
Long, narrow, dark coppcry-ajncons ; antenna; moderate, third joint about two and a half times longer than broad, second joint with a long bristle above, arista more than twice the length of the third joint, its own basal joint being also some- what conspicuous ; face narrow, silverj-white, sides almost parallel, frons greenish with a whitish gloss ; eyes densely hairy with a tawny pubescence, palpi brownish with yellowish hairs ; beard shaggy, white. Thorax coppery-aeneous, with two in- distinct dark longitudinal lines ; alula; dirty yellowish, fringe long, white ; abdomen long, narrow, coppery-wncous, becoming purplish on the fourth and fiflh segments and greenish on the sixth, the base of each segment darkened, bristles on the diso black, but about the base and along the sides clothed with white hairs ; lamellae dirty brownish-yellow, hairy, broad, not short, somewhat truncate and ragged at the end, the lower corner with a produced point, and the upper corner pointed. Legs chiefly luteous, C0X8B all blackish, front pair densely white-haired in front, hinder pairs white-haired, with a few black bristles at their tips, front femora blackish with a tolerably abundant, somewhat conspicuous, white pubescence behind, front tibiae yellowish, with several bristles in front on the basal half, tarsi dull yellowish, darker towards the tip, basal joint nearly equal in length to the next four, slightly swollen at the tip beneath, middle legs luteous, thin, femora with the tip obscure aliove, and with a slight wliitish pubescence beneath near the base, and about two some- what inconspicuous black bristles near the tip, tibia; bristly down the outside, tarsi darkening towards the tip, hind femora luteous, with the apical third black, especially above, one bristle near the tip, and a faint white pubescence beneath near the base, tibia; black, slightly brownish down the outside, rather bristly, tarsi blackish, two basal joints about equal in length. Wings dark brownish, especially near the costa.
198 [February,
The luteous hind femora i;vith black tips, the white face and beard, the blackish front femora and white-haired coxse and femora, seem to distinguish this from any British Poiyhyrops, and I believe from any recognized European species. I caught two males at Rannoch, in 1870.
DlAPHORUS DOHSALIS, n. sp.
$ ? . ]\Iimitus,nigro-viridis, antennis.pedibns halter'ihusqxte nigris ; fronte lata, facie oris aperturam versus angustata, obscure viridi; antennis hrevi- bus, articulo tertio lato, seta dorsali ; pedibus pubescenfJms ; alis nigri- cantibus. Long. vix. 1 lin.
Small, dark green ; frons broad, occupying more than one-tliird the width of the head, dull green, rendered lightish by the pale tomentum ; face of the same colour, narrowing steadily towards the mouth, being there only about a quarter the width of the vertex, the space between the eyes, therefore, from the vertex to the mouth forming a blunt-ended triangle ; antennae short, the third joint being about three times broader than long (similar to that of Chrysotus Icesiis), the minutely but densely pubescent arista arises from about the end of the upper fourth, thus appearing distinctly dorsal ; palpi dark brown. Thorax and scutellum green, ren- dered dull by tomentum, the bristles all black. .Abdomen green, somewhat shining, with black bristles, and the usual long bristles at the tip on the hypopygium. Legs black, with abundant small black bristles, and scattered longer bristles, the pulvilli whitish-yellow, considerably elongated on the front pair, less so oii the hindmost pair. Alulae with blackish edge and cilia, halteres black. Wings with a strojig blackish hue and black veins, the discoidal runs parallel to the cubital, or even di- verges slightly from it at the tip, and bears no signs of any flexure ; the lower cross-vein is about two and a half times its own length from the end of the postical vein.
? . Face and frons almost of equal width all the way down, only slightly nar- rowing towards the mouth, face dull green with a faint whitish tomentum, arista Btill more evidently dorsal. One specimen has the hind tibiae and tarsi brownish.
As each new species is discovered and described, the boundaries between the genera Diopliorus and Chrysotus seem to grow fainter. Diupliorus melancholicus, Lw., described in 1S69, is the nearest ally to D. dorsaUs, but seems to have the antenna; with a smaller roundish third joint, and a more blackish-green abdomen, besides being described as one line long, while D. dorsalis is distinctly less than that. The only characters I can detect separating D. dorsaJis fi'om the genus Chrysotus are the elongated pulvilli of the male, and the more distinct bristles on the hypopygium ; I see no character to separate the females.
One ^ and two ? at Woking, on August 1st, 1875, near the banks of the canal.
(To he coniinuedj.
ON A NEW GENUS AND SPECIES OF THE FAMILY STAPHYLINIDJE.
BY I). SUAEP, M.B.
The enormous mass of minute Stapliylinidce, named eollectively AJeocharini, consists of many hundred described (and probably nearly as many thousand undescribed) species, and forms one of the most specialized portions of the Stftphi/linidce ; by this, I mean a portion in which the points of structure distinctive of the family are most de- veloped. The c;roup of the Sfapliyliniilce called Tachjporini has been generally placed next to the AIeocJir/ri7ii ; it is, however, much less developed or specialised than the AJeocharini, and its place is likely still to give rise to much discussion. I am myself disposed to guess that the AJeocharini are likely to prove a group which must be subjected to much decomposition or analysis before it can be properly dealt with, and that some portions of it will be found to be directly con- nected with (or descended from) the OxyteJini, and others from the Tachyporini. The insect I here describe is of considerable importance as throwing some light on this point.
The most decided characters by which the AJeocharini and Tachy- porini arc distinguished, are the structure of the elytra, and the in- sertion of the antenn33. In the Tachyporini, the elytra are furnished with a well marked and abruptly distinguished pleural portion ; while in the AJeocharini this pleural portion is not to be found. The stages of its disappearance can be, it seems to me, clearly traced, for we have only to examine a selected series of Tachyporini to find this pleura becoming more and more inflexed, till, in Uypocyptics and Vatesiis, wo find it entirely and closely applied to the inner face of the 1)odY of the elytron ; it has, in fact, become completely dctublcd in or folded down. M. Pandelle has already pointed out that this is the metamorphosis by which the difference in the elytron of Ilypocyptus from other Tachy- porini may be understood, and the Vatesus latitans seems to demonstrate tliis completely ; for, while in Ilypocyptus the outer line or boundary of the pleura has entirely diHa])peared, and only the inner one can be detected, in Vatesus, on the other hand, both lines exist. The dis- appearance of the inner line (which is lli(( only one existing in Ilypocyptus) would c()ni[)leteiy ti'ansf<n'ni such an elylron into that of the AJeocharini.
As regards the second point by wliicli <he AJeocharini and Tachy- porini are distinguished, viz., the ins Ttion of the anteniuc, Vatesus seems to occupy a peculiarly interesting position between the two
2(JQ (Febniary,
groups : in it, the head has undergone a peculiar change, by -which the front half is bent down at right angles to the posterior half ; now, if this bent-down front portion be supposed to be bent up so as to restore it to its natural plane, it will be seen that the point of insertion of the antennae is that of the Aleocharini, or, perhaps I should rather say, of an ultra Aleocharineous Aleocharinid, for the point of insertion would then be correctly described as at the inner margin of the eye, but rather nearer to the back than to the front of the eye : if, on the other hand, we suppose this peculiar deflexed front portion of the head of Vatesus, together with the corresponding portion of the eye, to be greatly reduced in size, it is at once seen that the foi'm of the head and the insei'tion of the antennae would be exactly that of the ordi- nary Tachijporini.
I consider, then, that the Vatesus latitnns here described cannot be correctly classed with either the Aleocharini or Tachyporini, but should be considered apart as a connecting link between the two. I may remark also that this insect appears to have some points of re- lation with certain peculiar Quediini ; but this I have not fully in- vestigated, and only mention it as rendering still more probable the hypothesis that Vatesus is in many respects a very primitive form or synthetic type.
On one other point, I will venture to offer a suggestion. "When this insect is carefully examined, it is seen that its points of structure are such as to unfit it for much activity, but to afford it great pro- tection in complete quiescence ; thus the segments of the hind body are completely retractile, and Avhen so retracted, leave scarcely any portion of this part exposed, except the ventral plate of the basal segment, and this is protected by peculiar rigid spines. The extremely small head is capable of being completely inflexcd, and the sensitive front parts of it are then completely protected by the huge front coxae ; and I believe that the peculiar change of form of the front parts of the upper surface of the head will, on careful examination, be found to be merely a perfecting of this applicability. The legs are so formed that their parts are beautifully adapted to one another when flexed or contracted, the articulations being then completely protected, while the largo flat femora completely cover and protect the breast. "We can imagine, then, a small parasite seeking in vain to find a chink by which to gain access to the soft and nutritious parts of our Vatesus. Now, I am strongly inclined to consider that in a great many Coleoptera, and probably in other insects, it will be found that a vast number of
isro] 2(»l
points of titrueture are directly related to the preservation of the crea- ture from small ])arasitc3. AVe have here an extensiTO field in which " natural selection " may be suppose to operate in the most direct manner. Finally, I would add, that I think it will very likely be found that insects which are greatly modified for a very protected or quiescent life of this sort, are remarkably often primitive forms. The most beautiful instance of complete protection of the sort with which I am myself acquainted, is to be found in the " kugelformige," or rolling- up, TrogidcG.
VATESTJS, n. (jen.
Head extremely small in proportion to the prothorax, its vertical part forming a plane at right angles to the plane of the clypcal portion, so that when the head is extended, the vertical plane is horizontal and the clypcal one perpendicular ; this perpendicular portion is to a great extent occupied by two large depressions in which are the cavities for the insertion of the antennae ; the space separating these two large cavities is somewhat prolonged in front, is transversely convex, and to its front margin is attached the large labrum: the eyes are very peculiar inform; when looked at from the front, each eye appears as a perpendicidar external wall to the large antennal cavity, while, seen from the side, each eye presents a considerable superficies looking outwards ; when looked at from the front, it is seen that the round articular cavity for the insertion of the antenna is nearer to the top than to the inferior boundary of the perpendicular portion of the eye.
Maxillary palpi elongate, first joint short, second curved and elongate, third slightly longer than second and scarcely more slender than it, fourth elongate and slender, but considerable shorter than third, and scarcely half so stout as it, quite acuminate. Pronotum forming a very convex surface, the hind margin of which is sinuate on each side, the hind angles greatly rounded, the sides finely margined, curved, and extremely narrowed towards the front ; the front margin is very small in proportion to the others, and forms an arch for the accommodation of the head, the front angles being extremely obtuse.
Looking at the undcr-surface, the sides of the pronotum extend greatly beyond the prosternum, so that the front legs, when contracted, are entirely concealed ; tlio prosterimm is but a narrow band, placed quite in front of the coxa?, and leaving them completely exposed ; the cox£c are very largo and inflated, and the head can be dcflexed, and applied closely to the small portion of the thorax that is in front of and between them : the front femora arc short, broad, and plate-like, their lower edge being deeply channelled for the reception of the tibia?, the channel extending to the point of the trochanter ; the front tiblre are short, compressed, and arc rather attenuate towards the apex, their hinder face is armed with stout spines, and their apex possesses several long spines, which greatly conceal the upper face of the front tarsi ; these are five-jointed, and in the male arc ratlier broad, but the basal joints can scarcely be said to bo dilated, as they are not much broader than the terminal joint, they are clotlied beneath with long hairs, the fifth joint is broad and longer than the two preceding ones together. The mesosternum forms a transverse baud,
202 [I'ebruaiy,
which ecnds forward in tlio middle an elongate, extremely slender process between the middle coxa? to meet the metasternum. Middle coxaj very large. Metastcrnum greatly reduced, not so large as the hind coxte. Hind coxiE very large (similar in structure to what obtains in the conTCx South American species of Coproporus, e. g., C oSesiw, Sharp) . Middle femora broad and laminar, their hinder edge deeply channelled for the reception of the tibiaj : these are stout, rather attenuate towards the extremity, strongly spinulose ; the tarsi are broad, and appear like a continuation of the tibia;, the basal joint is particularly large, and is as long as the three following together, the fifth joint is stout and flat. Hind femora, tibite, and tarsi, much resembling the middle ones, but more slender and rather more elongate. Elytra (seen from above) very arched transversely, the humeral angles greatly rounded, the tipper superficies bounded by a fine line which extends from the hinder outer angle to near tlie large scutellum ; the hinder external angle is a little produced, so as to be acute, their suture is fine and accurately fitted, and is without stria. Seen from beneath, the external portions of the elytra project greatly as a broad free border be- yond the sternum, this border is marked off by a very distinct raised line, which exists on tlie inner face of the elytron, and accurately adapts itself to the side margins of the sternum. Ilind-body broad and short, much attenuated towards the extremity, the sides distinctly margined, the segments capable of being almost entirely retracted witliin one another : its structure very similar to that of the convex Copropori, this being the case also with the ocdeagus and its sheathing segment. The antenna; are not described, because only the two basal joints exist, these are rather short, the basal joint being ratlicr thick in proportion to its length.
Vatestjs latttans, n. sp.
Transversim perconvexiis, capite tliorace elytrixque nigris, nilidis,fere Itvcigalis; aldomine piceo,fcre opaco, crebre punctalo, densius subtiliter pubescente.
Long. Corp. extens. 8\ mm.
Head about 1 mm. broad, black, impunctate. Thorax about 3^ mm., broad, and about 2 in length, with a few very indistinct punctures scattered over its surface. Scutellum impunctate. Elytra about as long as the thorax, impunctate, moderately shining, (heir hind margin pitchy. Hind-body pitchy, with the hind-margins of the segments and the apex paler ; the segments above fi:iely, very evenly and rather closely punctm-ed, and clothed with a very short and even yellow pubescence : the under surface similar to the upper, except that it has the basal segment coarsely punctured, and its pubescence is developed into coarse spines. Logs pitchy. In the male, the dorsal plate of the 7th segment of the hind body ends in four obtuse teeth, the ventral plate has a broad and rather deep sub-angular notch at the apex ; the hind margin of the ventral plate of the preceding segment is a little trisinuate, and it is slightly depressed along the middle, and its pubescence arranged so as to give it an obsolete grooved appearance.
remale unknown.
Parana, South America ; a single mutilated male specimen.
Thornhill, Dumfries : _
November 23rd, 1875.
isrc] 203
BEITISn lIEMIFTERA-HOMOPTERA—n'ym'nO'SAIj SrECIES. BY J. W. DOUGLAS.
TTPITLOCTBID.E.
DiCRAXOXEl'RA PTaMJ^.A, 11. sp.
S . Orange -TplloTe. Head short, obtusely angular, sides rounded. 1^,'jes black, not prominent. Fronotum broad, about a fifth longer than tlic head, anteriorly much and roundly produced, posterior margin scarcely emarginatc. Scutellum with a dis- tinct black spot at the apex. Ulytra — coritim and clavus inwardly paler orange tlian on their outer sides, nerves deeper orange, the inner margin of the clavus with a fuscous line : membrane with a slightly fuscous tinge, nerves pale orange ; Ist cell short, angular, slightly prolonged posteriorly beyond the base of the 2nd and 3rd, which are of sub-equal length ; 3rd cell (between the 2nd and 3rd straight nerves) narrower than the others ; 4th cell with its oblique base extending further back than either of the others. Tr'iw,^* diaphanous, slightly infuscated, iridesceut ; longitudinal nerves infuscated. Le(js orange ; claws of the tarsi infuscated. Abdomen black above ; genitalia orange. Length, Ig line.
A single male taken casually at Dai'ciith "Wood, on the 7th Octo- ber last.
In eizc, this comes nearest to JHofiis minimua, J. 8ahlb. (which I know only by description), yet it appeared to differ so much from this and all other species with which I am acquainted, that I thought it best before describing it to submit it to Dr. Sahlberg, who thus writes concerning it : — " A species unknown to me. It is to be distinguished " from AT. minimus by the form of the head, the eyes less prominent " posteriorly, the broader pronotum with its posterior margin scarcely " emarginate, and the form of the genitalia, as well as by the different " colour."
TyPHLOCYBA CRATiEOI, W. sp.
Pale whitish-yellow. Ilead obtusely pointed, the sides rounded. Pronotum scarcely one-fourth longer Ihan the head, posterior margin slightly concave. Scu- tellum, like the head and pronotum, spotless. Elytra shining, pale yellowish with a greenish tinge, the lower margin of tlic clavus throughout narrowly and regularly palo fuscous-brown ; membrane pale fuscous, with somewhat indistinct yellowish nerves ; at the base of the colls on the corium a transverse row of more or less dis- tinct fuscous spots. Wings diaphanous, iridescent, nerves pale. Legs palo, claws of the tarsi fuscous. Abdomen whitish-yellow. Length, IJ line.
Allied to T. (/ratiosn, Boh., but smaller, elytra yellower, narrower, the fuscous stripe on the outer margin of the clavus not so broad and of uniform width, and the spots on the corium next the membrane rounder and less distinct. The s])ceics is unknown to. Dr. J. Sahlberg and M. Lethierry.
204 [ February, i
Taken on whitethorn {Cratcegus oxyncantha) at Lee, Dartford; c....^ Addiugton Hills, from the end o£ June to the end of October. I once found it on ajjple trees.
Ttphloctba debilis, 11. sp.
? . Pale yellowish-white. Head very obtusely produced, sides rounded, frong with two large, round, black spots. Pronotum with a small black dot in front close to the head, posterior margin scarcely concave. Scutellum concolorous with the head and pronotum, the apex with a conspicuous shining black spot. Elytra pale yellowish-white, with a delicate greenish flush, gradually deeper from the middle of the corium to the outer margin of the clavus ; membrane pale fuscous, with in- distinct pale yellowish nerves, generally the apex, and anterior and inferior margins each, with a dark fuscous, inwardly directed, elongated spot ; on the corium, at the base of the apical cells, a transverse row of fuscous spots. Wings diaphanous, lon- gitudinal nerves yellowish, fuscous at the extremity. Legs pale, claws of the tarsi fuscous. Abdomen above black, the margins of the segments white, the last ab- dominal segment posteriorly broadly white, and roundly produced over the long genital segment, which is whitish at the apex. Length, 1^ line.
Close to T. tenerrima, H-Schf., but distinct by the black spots on the head, pronotum, and scutellum, the absence of distinct vitta? on the elytra, the fuscous membrane, &c.
The male is unknown to me. I took three females at the Adding- ton Hills on 26th October last, beaten out of blackthorn growing among other bushes.
EUPTEETX TENELLUS.
Cicada feneJla, Fall., Act. Holm., 43 (1806) ; Hem. Suec, ii, 52, 41 (1826). Typhlocyha tenella, H.-Schf., F. G-., 164, 16 ; Flor, Ehyn. Livl., ii, 421, 27 (1801) ; Kirschb., Cicad., 191, 32 (1868). Typhlonjha pulchella, H.-Schf., F. G-., 124, 6. Eupteryx tenella, J. Sahib., Kot. Fenn., xii, 192, 3.
Pale yellow. Head broadly rounded anteriorly, two large rounded black spots on the frons, and one (transverse) on (he p'stcrior margin ; face convex, with two longitudinal blackish vittsD. Pronotum somewhat longer than the head, posterior margin straight ; the middle and posterior half of the disc (except the extreme margin) fuscous-brown. Scutellum large, with a sharp transverse depression beyond the middle ; the b^sal angles broadly black. JElytra pale greenish-yellow, with the scutellar margin, a broad stripe down the claval suture, and two narrower and shorter stripes beyond, dark fuscous ; membrane infuscated, nerves darker. Wings hyaline, longitudinal nerves thick, fuscous. Leg-"! yellowish, spines of the hinder tibiiic infus- cated, apex of the last joint of all the tarsi, also the claws, fuscous. Abdomen black,
the segments margined with yellow. Length, IJ line.
•
A very distinct species, unlike any other of the genus.
187C.] 205
A few specimens iu Dr. Power's collection, taken by him at Bird- Drook, Essex, at the end of May. Sahlberg says it is found on fJrtica dioica in South Finland.
Lee : November \oth, 1875.
ON CEETAIN BEITISH EEMIPTERA-HOMOPTERA.
BT JOHK SCOTT.
Description of a yiew British species of the Family Delpiiacid^e.
LlBUE>'IA PALUnOSA.
Delphax 2)aJudosa, Flor, E-hyn. Livl., ii, 82, 27. Undeveloped form, ^ .
Pale yellowish or brownish-yellow. Antennce : apex of the 1st joint and base of the 2nd narrowly black. Elytra as long as the ab- domen, slightly narrowed towards the long rounded apex.
Head brownish, inclined to fuscous-brown. Crown with a somewhat fuscous shade in front ; basal fovese distinct. Face : keels moderately acute and prominent. AntenncB brownish-yellow ; 2nd joint at least one and a half times as long as the 1st ; 1st joint at the apex, and 2nd at the base, narrowly black.
l^horax — pr'onotum ycWow, with a distinct puncture on each side of the centre ; pos- terior margin concave or somewhat angulate. Scutellum yellow. Elytra pale yellowibli or brownish-yellow ; nerves somewhat thickly and finely punctured. C'orium slightly tapering from the apex of the clavus to the long rounded apex. Sternum yellow, or with a slight fuscous shade. Legs yellow ; 1st and 2nd pairs with a brownish or fuscous shade. Tarsi : Ist and 2ud pairs black, or 1st and 2nd joints piccous and 3rd black ; 3rd pair, 3rd joint black.
Abdomen: above, yellowish ; beneath, pitchy-brown ; genital processes brown, to- wards the top reddish ; upper portion, when viewed from beneath, somewhat square, with the upper margin concave. Length, 1 lino.
By the shape of its genital processes, suggestive of L. neglecta, but in that species the upper portion is much longer, entii-ely brown, and attached to a shorter base. In L. i^ahulosa, when viewed from beneath, they may be roughly likened to two flags blowing towards each other. The different coloring of the antenna) and shape of the elytra are also excellent diagnostic characters.
Two ^ examples have been captured by Dr. Power at Mertou and TVimbledon in June and July.
Lee: 29<A November, 1875.
2(Xj [Febi-uary,
Note on Mr. Sctidders ''Remarks on the old genus Callidrt/as." — In the Proceedings of the Boston Society of Natural History, vol. xvii, part ii, p. 206, is a short paper by Mr. Scudder reriewiiig the N. Amcriciiii epecies included in my Monograph, and adding the description of a " new species ?" which he does me the honour to name after mc.
With Mr. Scudder's usual anxiety to sub-divide genera, he begins by splitting off C. Pyranthe, Linn., as a distinct genus from Catopsilia, and type oi'Murtia, Hiibncr. I can only say that the characters which he gives to distinguish it from Catopsilia do not hold good in a series of specimens ; it is easy to pick out an example of a species with short antennge, and compare it with an example of another species having long antennse, but the point to consider is whether this character will stand when we examine forty or fifty of each species.
The male of P. Agaritlie is often larger, and sometimes smaller, than it is repre- sented in my figure ; it does not differ so much in the mealy border above, as in tlie central streak below. As I have not given a short comparative diagnosis of the four orange males in my Monograph, I append them here : —
1. Wings below with zig-zag discal markings.
1«. Secondaries with silver spots below.
laa. Primaries above with black expanded spots at terminations of nervures, generally uniting into a continuous marginal border... PAcbJm Hersilia. \ah. Primaries above with small black dots at terminations of nervures.
Phathis rorata. V>. Secondaries without silver spots below Phcebis Argante,
2. Wings below with discal markings replaced by a straight oblique line or streak :
otherwise as in the preceding species Phoebis Agarithe.
These characters will always distinguish the males of the above species : the females are as usual quite unlike each other, and therefore need no such tabular diagnoses to distinguish them.
The figure of C. Eubule, 3 , "was taken from a very good example. I had no need to take my drawings from rubbed specimens, as suggested by Mr. Scudder, since I had the run of all the fine collections in this country, and had about 500 Callidrgades in my house at one time.
The C. Cypris of Edwards' List, and quoted by Mr. Scudder, will probably turn out to be IJetura virgo, mihi, ^ .
Apkrissa Putleri, Scudder, is the Callidryas Boisduvali of Felder, between which and C. Statira Mr. Salvin has a perfectly transitional series, as mentioned in my Monograph Lep. Exot., p. 143. — A. O. Butleb, British Museum: lOth November, 1875.
Kate on Lyccena Galathea, Blanch. — In 1865, Mr. Moore described and figured in Proc. Zool Soc. an Indian species of Lycana mider the name of Pol. Nyeula. This he now believes to be identical with Lye. Galathea, Blanch. (1844). In this opinion I concur. I believe, also, that Lye. metallica, Feld. (1865) is only a synonym of L. Galathea, in spite of the differences on the imder-side of the cj , as figured by Felder. Felder docs not figure the under-side of the 9 , but his description applies accurately to the under-side of L. Nptula, ^ , so that I think it probable
18T6.1 207
tliiit his L. metaUica J was described from an oxainplo of i. Oalathea, in whiuh the pupils of the spots on the under-side of fore-wing were obsolete. This is the more probable, as in the allied European species, L-yc. I'heretes, the same peculiarity occurs : the pupils being sometimes very distinctly marked, and in other cases almost invisible. Felder remarks on the relationship of this species to Lye. Cyllanis. I think it closer to the I'heretes group, though certainly it has some affinity to Lye. Cyllarus and L. melanops. The synonymy (if I am correct) should now stand as follows : — Lye. Galathea, Blanch. (18'14) ; Lye. Nyeula, Moore (1865) ; Lye. melallica, Feld. (1865). — Eichard P. Mukray, Beckeuliam : Decemher, 1875.
Symphcsdra Dirtea attracted hy bait. — My old Penang friend, J. P. Stewart, Esq., having lately paid me a visit, we soon found ourselves talking over our old entomological days in Malacca. I was thus enabled to recall and verify a fact that had quite slipped from my mind, viz. : — that Symphcedra Dirtea can be attracted by a bait. Slices of cut pine-apple placed along a road that ran by the jungle, were generally sure, in a short time, at the proper season, to be visited by a good supply of both males and females. The sexes, as is well known, are strikingly dissimilar, but the collectors there, without any special knowledge of Lepidoptera, had come to the right conclusion owing to both forms being generally found together. Old and fallen fruits of most kinds were attractive, but sliced pine-apple was mostly used as bait. I had been told tliis when in Province Wellesley, Penang, but having never tried it, I am {.dad to have the authority of my friend Stewart, who has been very successful in catching this butterfly by the above method. — W. L. Distant, Streatham Cottage, West Dulwich.
yote on suyariny. — Some entomologists assert that it ia useless to sugar when ivy is in bloom. Is'ow, I do not qu(;stion the fact of moths being attracted by the ivy blossom, but I do question the useh'ssness of sugaring near ivy when it is in blossom. I had an opportunity of proving this about the end of September, when that plant was flowering.
Tlie place where I sugared was in Berwickshire, near the coast. I first cut about a dozen sticks, four or five feet long, and, by means of grass, tied various plants on to the top of them. These sticks I placed in the ground in a long walk, with shrubs on both sides, and well protected from northerly and easterly winds. A plantation lay to the south of the walk, and a wall bordered this plantation on the westward, while, on the top of this wall, forty yards from where the sticks were placed, was the ivy. It overhung both sides, and covered a large portion of the wall.
In the day-time wasps, drones, blue-bottle flies, &c., were in crowds on it, while, in nights previous to my sugaring, moths were there in abundance. I used the common sugaring mixture. This I placed on the plants. The night was peculiarly favourable for the trial, being very dark, while a light wind blew the smell of the sugar down in the direction of the ivy. About half-past seven I came out and examined all the plants. I found it a complete success. I examined the ivy next, and found only five or six moths. It was the same at 9 o'clock. The moths at the sugar were mostly inebriated. Specimens of Xylinaferruginea were very numerous; Cerastis vaccinii and Hcopelosoma satelliLia were also numerous. I got five speci- mens of Calocampa exolela, and two of Ayrotis suffusa. Gonoptcra libafrix was
20S February,
also there, for I got two speciraens, one of which had apparently newly come out. Miselia oxyacanthce, Miana liferosa, TriphcBna promiba, and one or two other species, were there too. In point of number, I have never beheld such an assemblage of moths. . This surely shows that it is not useless to sugar near ivy when it is flowering. — W. Sandison, 43, Govan Eoad, Glasgow.
Query as to breeding Agrotls agaihina. — The difSculty of rearing this moth from the larva has, I believe, been solved and published during my recent absence abroad. I am very anxious to see the plan recommended, but cannot learn in which magazine the publication took place. May I ask for this information from the readers of this Journal ? — G. Noejian, Cluny Hill, Forres.
Xysmatodoma melanella and Solenohia pomoncB. — I am much pleased that attention has again been directed to the problem of the life-history of Solenohia pomoncB and X. melanella. Mr. Boyd, before pubKshing his note on the subject, kindly forwarded it to me ; and although I fear I am not quite convinced that my view of the subject is wrong, still I thank him for the kind and courteous way he has approached the subject.
I suppose I have had more opportunities of studying the history of pomoncB than most entomologists, as I have collected, since I first found the species, many thousands of the cases in the hope of discovering the male form. From the time of my first finding the species until the year when my notes appeared in the Magazine (18G9), I had been in communication, respecting these cases, with my esteemed friend, the late Mr. Doubleday. I had sent Mm, at different times, hundreds of the cases ; and it was acting under his advice, and after I had submitted my notes to him, that they appeared in the Magazine, he thinking, with myself, that, even supposing my view of the subject to be incorrect, still a sufficient amount of attention might be brought to bear on the life-history of pomoncB to solve the puzzle of its singular economy.
I will now briefly state my experience of pomonce and melanella, so that the present position of the subject may be clearly defined ; and I hope the matter, deeply interesting as it is, will not again be lost sight of until solved finally beyond doubt : and should the solution prove adverse to the view I propounded, still my object in bringing it forward will be accomplished.
The first year I found the cases was, I think, either 1855 or 1856 ; but, upon submitting them to an entomological friend, he thought they would prove dipterous, an opinion, I believe, shared at the time by Mr. Stainton. I, however, collected a lot of the cases ; but, as I apparently bred neither flies nor moths, I threw them away. A closer examination of the larva the next season proved them to be lepi- dopterous, and I collected several thousand cases, a large proportion of wliich I divided among my correspondents, as it was evident the species, when bred, would prove a now one to Britain. I was very successful this time in rearing specimens, but all were of the apterous form ; and the singularly long ovipositor for a lepi- dopterouB insect at once showed its distinctness from any other known species. Several of my entomological friends, to whom I sent cases, were also successful in rearing them, but with like results to myself, only apterous forms appearing. • We thought, perhaps, the next year we should succeed in breeding the male
is7f..] 209
form, and again I collected and sent round an enormous luimber of cases (the cases this season being in -wonderful profusion, hundreds of specimens might have been taken on a space of a few inches square) ; but again, to our great disgust, nothing but the apterous form could be bred. This went on till 1869 ; and my correspondents, one after the other, gave up the problem. I may add hero that among the large number of cases I had bred myself, or had sent to correspondents, not a single example of melanella had ever occurred.
In 18G9 the change came : nearly all the cases from the trees, from which I had been in the habit of breeding pomonce, now produced melanella, the porportion of winged forms to apterous being, I think, about ten to two. I at once joyfully wrote off to Mr. Doubleday that I had at last bred the male form of pomonce, but added that it was strangely like melanella as described in Mr. Stainton's Manual. Mr. Doubleday regretted he had no melanella he could send me for comparison, but he lent me a German work iu which melanella and cases were figured, and I found my surmise was correct, and that my winged forms were melanella.
In 1870, 1 again collected a lot of cases, and the proportion of 1869 was reversed ; and I bred a very large proportion of apterous forms, the winged species being few and far between. In 1871, my cases produced only apterous forms, not a single winged example appearing. In 1872, from several causes, I did not collect any cases.
Last year my friend, Mr. W. H. Grigg, and myself again collected a large number of cases, many of the fully-grown ones having the truncated appearance that Mr. Boyd describes as peculiar to melanella. We both bred the apterous form fi-eely, and nothing else. Thus the matter stands. Mr. Eoyd has met with both species, if species they are, feeding together ; and it will be interesting to learn if the cases are of equal distribution everywhere. The cases of both forms I have found on oak, pear, apple, plum, cherry, ash, beech, elm, and poplar trees : they occur at from two to six feet from the ground, principally ; and after the eye becomes accustomed to them, are not hard to find. If they occur here during the coming spring, in anything like their usual abundance, I shall be most happy to send cases to any entomologists who care to join Mr. Boyd and myself in endeavouring to settle the matter conclusively.
In rearing both fonns in 1869 and 70, I found my experience was exactly as Mr. Boyd describes, the apterous form leaving the pupa-skin inside the case, while melanella, or, I should have said, the winged form, left the puparium emerging more or less from the case, sometimes bringing it altogether out; but when we consider the activity of the winged form on the one hand, even when emerging from the p\ipa, and the sluggish and almost legless apterous form, this difiiculty disappears in a large measure.
With respect to the editorial note attached to Mr. Boyd's paper, I nmy add that pooh-poohing a subject will neither prove or disprove it; and I think that the editors of the Magazine will hardly risk asserting that pomona has power to reproduce itself continuously without the male form appearing. — Geobge llAitDiNO, Stapleton, near Bristol : December 9lfi, 1875.
Description of the larva of Botys terrealis. — On the 13th September last I received a fine full-grown larva of this species from Mr. J. B. Ilodgkinson of Preston, who had collected about half a score at drangc^ two days previously.
210 1 February,
The larva is very lively, about an inch in length, and of tolerable bulk in proportion ; head globular and shining, small, about the same width as the 2nd, but much narrower than the succeeding segments ; body cylindrical and very markedly attenuated towards the extremities ; the segmental divisions are rather deeply cut ; the somewhat glossy and semi-translucent skin is clothed with a few scattered short hairs ; the usual dots distinct.
Ground colour, rich reddish-pink ; the head and anal segment pale yellowish- brown, mandibles and a few spots on the lobes darker brown ; the most conspicuous of its markings is the broad pulsating vessel which forms the medio-dorsal stripe : it is of a considerably darker tint than the general ground colour : there are no other particular mai-kineis, but the sides are variegated a little with a darker shade of the ground colour. Ventral surface a little paler, and each pro-leg tipped on the outside with a black dot.
Freyer describes the larva as "pale green, with several slender, rather darker, lateral lines." This must have been taken from a very different variety to mine.
Mr. Hodgkinson collected the larvoe from golden rod {Solidago virgaurea), and in his note accompanying the one sent me, says, " the plants they are on are denuded of flowers, as a rule, and generally shabby." He could find no larv£e on the plants which were in full bloom. — G-EO. T. Porritt, Huddersfleld : December 2nd, 1875.
On the larva of Hydrocampa nymph(nalis and its habits. — I am glad to express my thanks to Mr. Henry Laver, of Colchester, for the welcome gift, on the 5th July, 1875, of two aquatic larvae which proved to be of this species, and also for a supply of Potamogeton nutans, the plant on which he had found them feeding ; and I venture to suppose that some account of my observations may perhaps be acceptable.
These larvro — differing much in size, but, as presently appeared, both nearly full-fed, the difference in size being a sexual distinction, the ? larger than the <J — were inhabiting cases floating on, or near the surface of, the water ; the length of the largest case was one and a half inches by three-quarters in breadth, the smaller case not more than three-quarters inch long by three-eighths broad ; both of a flattish and somewhat oval general figure, formed with two pieces of the Potamogeton leaf placed one upon the other, and fastened together with silk at the sides ; the com- ponent pieces not cut quite alike, for at one part the upper piece projected a little beyond the lower, and at another part the reverse of this occurred ; these irregularities of outline were most noticeable in the smaller case ; the ends of both were free, though appearing to fit close ; the upper piece showing a slight convexity of surface, the lower piece nearly flat, possessing much elasticity at the ends ; the edges of the case were always a little submerged, and only the central convex part of the upper surface would appear above the water while it was floating at the top ; when entirely submerged, with the occupant hidden within, it appeared quite flat, like a mere fragment of leaf, due to an optical effect of the water.
Tliinking the larva- appeared mature, I lost no time, on the day they arrived, in securing figures of them. I pushed the largest out of its case into a saucer of water ; it soon ascended the side of tlie saucer, above the water, so far that only its hinder segment remained immersed, and in this position, for several minutes, it kept still, affording me the opportunity of a good examination. I found it to be seven-eighths inch in lengtli, stout in proportion, thickest in fihe middle of the body, and tapering
18V6 ) 211
towards each end rather suddenly ; the head rather small ; the segmciits decreasing in thickness from the seventh, and again decreasing from the tenth to the anal tip, all well defined by deep, yet close, divisions ; the tliird and fourth segments with three sub-dividing wrinkles on the back, the other segments with only one deep wrinkle, the sides dimpled ; the anterior legs tolerably well developed, the ventral and anal legs mere fleshy swellings with a flat process at the extremity fringed with fine hooks. The colour of the head light olive-brown, the lobes and mouth darker brown ; a pale olive shining plate on the second segment margined both in front and behind by a fine black line, and within it, after an interspace ef the pale ground, there is, in the middle, a transverse fusiform brownish-black mark dorsally divided by a thin pale line ; the rest of the body above light olive brown with a darker dorsal stripe, and fainter indications of a sub-dorsal stripe less dark ; the body beneath much paler, of a light buff colour very faintly tinged with olive ; no abrupt change of colour to mark the division of the back from the belly, as the tints of both melt slightly together along the spiracles, which are very small, roundish oval, level with the skin, of the ground colour delicately outlined with reddish-brown ; the hooks of the feet dark brown ; the whole skin soft and velvety, appearing darker in the depths of the segmental divisions, and paler at the folds.
After remaining quiet about ten minutes, wliilst I was making my observations, the larva began by degrees to recover from its fright, and, regaining confidence, turned back into the water, sinking in it to the bottom, about an inch in depth ; here it stretched itself out to the length of apparently an inch and a half,* looking very thin and silvery, reminding me of a preserved larva unnaturally attenuated ; in this way, by its motions, it appeared to be searching for its case, or for the food- plant ; and when presently its empty case was placed on the water near it, and it contrived to touch the case with its head, it seemed baflled at first in its attempts to get into it, but in a few minutes, while struggling with the buoyant structure, it arrived with it at tlie side of the saucer, up which it crawled, and from thence on to the top of the case, appearing perfectly dry, and with its previous proportions and shape resumed ; and, on coming to one end of the case, it tucked down its head, and in a couple of seconds had entered within, and was out of sight. I then examined the smaller larva, and found it varied only in being a little deeper coloured. After tliis I left them quiet, and they seemed very shy for a couple of days, and lay under the lowest broad leaf of the floating Potamogeton ; but while thus hidden themselves from view, tlieir situation could be made out, easily cnougli, by the large discoloured curved blotchea they caused on the leaf by eating away the lower cuticle, and occasionally making a small hole quite through the upper surface ; this leaf was nearly consumed by the fifth day, by which time their shyness had in a measure worn off, and they were then eating at the edges of another leaf, their cases in view alongside, or lying above the leaf : on the seventh day, I noticed the largest larva had drawn the edge of a leaf a little way within the opening of its case, and was then eating without at all exposing itself: its companion at this time was lying hidden in its case at the bottom of the water for several liours, but it came up again and fed at intervals, often protruding its front segments as it crawled along the stems and leaves of the plant ; the largest larva also at times protruded as many as seven segments downwards, as though exploring the depth of the water, but was generally
* Probably an optical cfioct of water.
212 . [Februury,
the most intent on its food ; sometimes, while reposing within its case, it would lie on the upper surface of a leaf, in which position it was not readily detected, the assimilation being so perfect ; at other times, like its companion, it would be floating concealed, its case being just in contact with the edge of a leaf or stem ; indeed, I found I could not isolate either of them at such times in the clear space of water between the leaves, for whenever I placed one there, as lightly as possible, it seemed drawn, though gently, yet with an attraction irresistible, towards some part of the plant ; and if one end of the case first touched it, the other end swung round till the side of the case was in contact, when it would be still.
Finding the water much sullied by the frass, I thought it necessary to have it changed every second day, and each time this operation occurred, the larvaj and their food were transferred, for a few minutes, from the large china bowl in which they were kept to a saucer of water, and while here it happened, on three occasions, that pellets of frass were ejected, with some force, out of the water, to the distance of eight inches beyond the saucer, on the table : its propulsion seemed frequently to be in an upward dii'cction, as I constantly noticed, latterly, a large proportion of frass adhering to the side of the bowl two inches or more above the water.
After feeding well for ten days, during which time all the five leaves of the plant sent with them had become much ravaged and reduced to fragments, to my great satisfaction, the larviB appeared on the 16th of the month to have ceased feeding ; and towards evening I was greatly surprised to see the smaller larva had abandoned its case, and was crawling naked over the remains of its food-plant, its colour a little faded ; on the morning of the 17th I found it half out of the water, on the side of the bowl ; in the afternoon I saw, with much perplexity, the larger larva had also left its case, and was crawling about through the water in a forlorn condition, and much paler than before. I now had great anxiety for their ultimate fate, as their behaviour did not seem to agree with their alleged habit of pupating within their cases, which were still as fresh-looking as at first ; so, with a faint hope of their spinning up amongst the debris of their food, I left them for the night. The next moi'ning, seeing both larvae out of the water, and looking very miserable, it struck me they were seeking some other kind of plant to make up in, and I supplied some Callitriche verna and Helosciaditim nodiflorum, but on neither of these plants would they stay, and I then tried some pieces of Sparganium ramosum, on wliich they crawled about and lingered some time, which induced me to obtain several longer pieces, and to stand them upright, with the lower ends in water, within a glass globe, and, after placing the larva; there, to tie over a piece of muslin at the top, lest they might wander away ; this arrangement proved successful ; the burr-reeds were now it position as they would be naturally growing out of water, and I had the great pleasure and relief of seeing, within a minute, the larger larva creep up about an inch or so above the water level, between two pieces of the Spar- ganium, and immediately begin to spin them together ; the smaller larva also soon found out two other pieces suitable, and began to spin them together in the same manner, and at the same distance above the water; and I watched their proceedings as long as tiieir heads could be seen in motion, sometimes upwards from side to side, and then below in the same way, until the surfaces were closed up entirely. I let them remain imtil a week had elapsed, when, seeing the Sparganium begin to look bad at the bottom, I cub the pieces shorter, and st»od thorn on some dry moss in a pot covered with gauze.
isrc;.] . 213
Eotli moths were out on August 7tli, — a male aiul female : on examining the pnparia, I found the tissues of the Sparganium hivd shrunk so much, that the oval form of the enclosed cocoons stood out in rounded relief on the outer surfaces, while within, the entire space spun over with silk was ahout one and a quarter inches long b\- three-eighths wide; and in the middle of this was the cavity of the cocoon five- eighths long by quarter inch wide, smoothly lined with the same greyish-white silk as the rest ; that which was below the cavity was more thickly spun than that above it, but both united the flat surfaces close together. The pupa skin remained with the head uppermost, and the shrivelled-up larval skin at the lower end of the cavity ; the dimensions of the pupa skin were half an inch in length by nearly three-sixteenths in diameter at the thickest part of the body across the ends of the wing-covers, the abdomen tapering from thence to the anal tip, which is bluntly rounded off without any projecting boss or spike, but having, instead, a horny wart, cleft and bilabiate — not raised above the rest of the surface — and furnished also with a few small bristles ; the wing-covers long, the antennae and leg-cases very long, projecting at their ends free from the abdomen. . The colour a light warm brown on the wings and ventral surface, which, with the abdominal tip, are shining, while the thorax and back of abdomen are a little darker, and rather reddish-brown, without gloss ; the spiracles projecting conspicuously large, like nipples, each on a slight eminence, were darkish- brown in colour, and shining, surrounded by a paler ring at the base, three of them being near the margin of the wings oia the sixth, seventh, and eighth segments, and a smaller one, less defined, on the twelfth, but on the intermediate segments none arc to be seen.
To complete my notes in chronological order, I must here add that, on August 11th, 1875, I received, from the Rev. A. Fuller, a female moth of this species, cap- tured by him, a few days before, while it was flying about a pond at Harting. This moth was boxed and forgotten for a day or two, and when the box was opened it contained a batch of eggs, some of them still adhering to the abdomen of the insect^ The eggs were laid on the chip in clusters, with some in a string that were attached to the tail of the moth, all firmly glued together on the surfaces of the chip. The shape of the egg roundish ovate and much flattened, without gloss, and of a very deep yellow amber colour. I placed the chip with the eggs to float in water, and on the 19th August two eggs were turned black ; a few daj's later they had all become black, but none of them hatched, and I threw them away late in September. — William Buckler, Emsworth : October 22nd, 1875.
P.S.— After preparing the above notes for the press, Sfr. ifcLachlan has most kindly given nie the opportunity of reading Keaumur's wonderfully interesting " Memoire des Chenilles Aquatiques," by far the greater portion of which refers to JI. nt/mphceal is ; and I should like to quote his observations on a few points which I liad not myself the opportunity of observing.
Reaumur found, near the edges of the Potamogeton leaves, many little clusters of I he eggs, and he seems to think the moth covers them with bits of the leaves, but as he never closely watched a moth laying its eggs (and it is hard to under.stand how she could effect the concealment in the way he supposes), he cannot say how she managed to cover them.
As soon as ever tiio larva) arc hatched — at the end of July, or beginning of August — he Bays each makes a little case for itself, and as it grows, continually makes fresh cases adapted to its increasing size.
2 LI [February,
He watched some of the larger larvse malcuig cases, and thus describes wliat he saw: — "To make itself a new case, the larva clings to the lower side of a leaf of " Potamofjeton ; with its 'teeth' it pierces some portion of the leaf, and then it "bites it by degrees in following the curved line, which must have the outline of the " piece it wishes to detach. . . . Wlien the larva has cut, like a piece of cloth, " a bit of the leaf of suitable size and figure, it has half the stuff necessary for " making itself a case ; it seizes this piece with its ' teeth,' and carries it either under "another part of the same leaf, or beneath another leaf; it stops and fixes it in the " place which seems suitable. But it is to be noticed that it places it so that the " under-side of the piece is turned towards the under-side of the new leaf, in order " that the interior sides of the case are always made of the under surface of the two " pieces of leaf. And the caterpillar has determined to use them thus for a good " reason : although the leaves of Potamogeton are tolerably flat, they are a little " concaye below ; thus the under-side of the two pieces of leaf are turned towards " each other, though the edges of one are set against the edges of the other, there " remains between tliem a cavity for the dwelling of the larva ; and that cavity " would be more difBeult to contrive, if the upper surface of one piece were applied " to the under surface of the other.
" Sometimes the larva is content to attach the piece to the under-side of the
" loaf, to which it has brought it, and that is at the time when it is
" about to change to a pupa. Then it spins in the cavity enclosed by the two portions " of leaf a somewhat thin cocoon, but of very close tissue.
" When the larva is not ready to change, it thinks to make itself a case — a " dwelling, which it can cai-ry about wheresoever it wishes to go. It begins by fixing "lightly, by tacking, so to say, the piece it has already cut against the new leaf; it " leaves apparently all round between the leaf aud the piece at intervals, but tolerably " near one another, places by which it can put out its head. But it is certain that " the piece whicli it has attached to the leaf serves as a model to cut from it another " piece of equal size and similar shape. These two pieces together form its complete "covering; the larva finishes uniting them all round their outline, except at one " of the ends, where the two halves of the case remain simply resting against " one another. .............
" Whilst the larva continues to grow, its dwelling is nothing but these two pieces " of leaf fastened together, though when the time of its change draws near, it carpets " its case, making in it a cocoon of white silk."
As Reaumur speaks of finding cocoons under water containing pupa?, and as the pupa; Lhemselves are furnished with spiracles similar to those of the larva;, it might well be that ordinarily the pupation takes place under water, but for the time the conduct of my two larva; puzzled me, when I saw them making their cocoons above the surface ; perhaps there was not a suflicient quantity of Potamogeton left to satisfy their requirements in spinning themselves up. Reaumur notices — but confesses he cannot explain — the fact that the cases, though constructed entirely under water, are yet themselves quitJ dry and free from water — diving bells in fact — and he credits the larva with some power of expelling the water after it has completed a case : his description of colour of the larva seems to refer to its appearance under water, when it shows luminous with a brilliant silvery glitter as it advances the front segments out beyond its case, for he says " almost all its body is white, and of a white that must be (called) glittering," thougli»lie calls the head brown and the back of the first two or three tii-'ments tinted with brown.
1 ■»:«,) oi.")
There is such an artlossnoss and freshtioss in R'ainnur's wriiing, Hint in laying down the book, one seems to liave been listening to the conversation of a living brother of the net, rather than reading notes set down a century and half ago ; and, from having so recently travelled over the same gronnd with lemnalis and iiymph(EaHs, I «i'i add my testimony to all that has before been given to the wonderful quickness and truth of his powers of observation. — W. B. : Nooemher 20th, 1875.
Doryphora 10-Uitea/a. — Eecently, after looking through a small case of Cohoptera sent from New Q-renada, so long ago as 1845, I found two specimens of the so-called " Colorado Potato Beetle." I have compared them with specimens from Canada and cannot detect any difference. As it has been stated that this insect was only known up to a few years ago as living in tlie Rocky Mountains to#ards New Mexico, I think it well to put on record that it has been received from another district, so widely separated from that which was supposed to be its head-quarters, long before it attained to such disagreeable notoriety. — W. S. M. D' Urban, Albuera, St. Leonard's, Exeter : December, 1875.
Sphinx convolvuli in Devonshire. — I have received four Rpccimens of this Ilawkmoth taken between the middle of September and beginning of October. One was from Honiton and the remaining three from this ncighbourhood%— Id.
Colia.i Ediisa in Devonshire. — This butterfly was quite numerous on the cliffs between Dawlish and Teignmouth on the 14th October last. — lo.
Migratory Locust in North Devon. — A large greenish locust, which I believe to be Pachytylus migratorius, was shown to me on the 25th August, having been taken a few days previously at Chulmleigh in North Devon. It was quite distinct from Acrydium peregrinum, several specimens of which were taken in Exeter, in the autumn of 1869. — Id.
Entomological Society of London: hth January, 1876. — Sir S. S. Saunders, C.M.G., President, in the Chair. Messrs. F. J. Iforninian and I). O. Rutherford were elected Members; and Mr. F. Phiock and Professor Dickson, Subscribers.
The Rev. R. P. Murray exhibited a series of Lepidoptera and other insects taken in the Alps during the past summer, including interesting local varieties.
Mr. S. Stevens exhibited a Dragon-fly {.Jischna mixta ; not a common species), found dead in his garden at Norwood in the middle of last November.
Mr. Champion exliibited Aleochara hibernica, Rye, from Slicve Donard in Ireland, Homalota egregia, Rye, from Caterham, and Cryptophagus subfumatus, Kraatz, from the London District (described in No. 1 10 of this Magazine).
Mr. Bales communicated " Additions to the list of the Geodephagous Colenptera of Japan." Mr. Miskin, of Brisbane, communicated the description of a gigantic species of Saturniida: from Cape York, which he termed Attacui Jlercnies. The insect ex- panded to nine inches, and the hind-wings were furnished witli long tails ; both sexes were in the Brisbane Museum. Mr. C. O. Watcrhouso conmiunicatcd a paper on new genera and species of Coleopiera belonging to various groups.
Part iv of the " Transactions " for 1875 was on (he table.
210 [February, IRTtV
MONOGEAPH UPON THE BRITISH SPECIES OF SAECOPSAOA, OH
FLESH-FLY.
BY E. H. MEADE.
Genus SAECOPHAGA.
Gen. char. Body elongate. Antennse incumbent, with the tliird joint rather more than twice the length o£ the second. Arista long, with the basal half plumose (except in some aberrant species), and the extrem- ity bare. Eyes naked, and separated from each other in both sexes by a frontal space, which is wider in the females than in the males. Mar- gins of facial gfoove smooth. Forehead with two rows of setae in the males, and four in the females. Cheeks with a few small bristles placed in a somewhat oblique row below each eye, and varying in size in different species. Thorax large, but greater in length than width, divided into two nearly equal parts by a transverse suture, and fur- nished with a number of bristles, some of which are placed upon the sides in irregular lines, while others are always arranged longitudinally in two jDarallel rows upon the dorsum. These rows are placed upon the two outer of the three broad black stripes by which the back is marked, and always contain a definite number of bristles in each row, some in front and others behind the transverse suture, the number varying in different species, but always constant in the same. The central part of the back is free from bristles, with the exception of two placed just above the base of the large scutellum.
Abdomen elongated in the males, and oval in the females, con- sisting of four distinct segments, with the addition in the males of two • terminal or anal joints, which arc more or less tumid and involuted. The segments are armed with spines upon their posterior margins, but not upon their middle surfaces (as in the TacJimidcp). Two spines are always placed near together in the centre of the posterior edge of the third segment, and (in many species) two also upon the same pai-t of the second segment.
Alulets or scales large, the lower scale being about twice as long as the upper.
Wings with the fifth longitudinal vein bent at an acute or right angle, and then extending in a curved line to the margin, which it reaches at a short distance from the extremity of the fourth longitu- dinal, leaving the first posterior cell partly open. The angle of the fifth vein is apparently furnished at the point of flexure with a short appendix. The fourth longitudinal vein is always armed at its base with a row of short spines or teeth, which are also met with in some species upon the second vein. •
March, 1876.] 217
Legs furnished with numerous spines and haii's. Feet with large pulvilli and claws ; the points of the latter are mostly broken off on tlie fore, and often on the middle, feet of the males.
The genus Snrcojyhaga, which includes a considerable number of British species (I have already determined twenty, and have no doubt that many more will be found), is composed of a series of yellowish or whitish-grey flies, striped and variegated with brown or bluish-black. The palpi and antenna; are always black ; the thorax is marked with three longitudinal broad black stripes upon the dorsum, and also with some short and broken lines upon the sides; the abdomen is tessellated upon its upper surface, with a number of irregularly shaped black and white spots, forming glittering patches, which reflect the light, so that they appear of different sizes, shapes, and colours, when viewed in different directions, but are arranged more or less in longitudinal rows or stripes, which are much more distinct in some species than in others.
The majority of these flies are so much alike, that it is impossible to distinguish the separate species from each other by mere differences in colour and design ; and the greater number of authors having chiefly relied upon these points, very few of the species descx'ibed by them cau be determined with certainty. Varieties of the same have been named as separate species, different species have been confounded together, and the same species has been described by different authors under different names. Though so much alike, however, in general appearance, many very good structural points exist by which the dif- ferent species of Sarcophaga may be separated from one another, and named with certainty ; and, before commencing the description of them, I will briefly enumerate the principal distinctive characters upon which reliance may be placed.
Thiijirst, which has been noticed by all authors, and by which the species may be separated into two principal divisions, is llie colour of the terminal segment of the abdomen, which is always black or grey in one division, and red in the other.
The second important character is the presence or absence of minute spines upon the second longitudinal vein of the wings, similar to those present in all species at the base of the fourth.
The third is whether the hind tibia) of the males are bearded or not with long soft and often thick hairs.
T^\\(i fourth is whether the second alnlnminal segment is armed like the third with two strong central spines upon its posterior miirgin.
Thoffth is the number of bristles in the two Idugitudinal rows
0|C> I March,
upon the dorsuin of tlie thorax, some species having four, many only three, and a few only two, behind the transverse suture (see figs. 1, 2, 3).
Besides these important characters, there are some others of secondary value, which are often useful for the determination of nearly allied species ; for instance, the presence or absence of the costal spine upon the wings, the width of the frontal space between the eyes, the size of the bristles upon the cheeks, &c.
To facilitate the description of the species, T shall first arrange them in an analytical manner, and in so doing, shall closely follow the method adopted by Eondani in the 5th vol. of his " Prodromus Diptero- logiae Italicae," a work from which I have derived much valuable in- formation respecting this genus.
ANALYTICAL ARRANGEMENT.
A. Apex of aljilomen black or grey in both sexes.
B. Wings without spines upon the second longitudinal veins.
C. Posterior tibia; of i bearded ou their inner sides.
D. Abdomen with two spines in the centre of the edge of the second segment.
E. Thorax with four bristles behind the transverse suture in the two dorsal rows.
1. Caknaeia, Lin. EE. Thorax with only three dorsal bristles behind the suture. a. First anal segment shining black in <J .
2. Albiceps, Meig.* 3. Atkopos, Meig.
4 SiiiiLis, sjj. 71.
aa. First anal segment grey in 6 .
DD. Second abdominal segment without central dorsal spines.
F. Thorax with four dorsal bristles behind the suture.
FP. Thorax with three dorsal bristles behind the suture.
6. First anal segment of <J extruded and shining black.
5. Melasuka, Meig.
Ih. First anal segment of <J mostly retracted, and, when exposed, grey, not black.
C. Ar.KicoLA, Meig. CC. Posterior tibia; of <J without beards on their inner sides.f
G. Abdomen with two central spines upon the edge of the second segment. H. Arista with short hairs.
a. Arista almost bare. Third joint of antenna; thickened.
7. Laticoknis, Meig.
aa. Arista with short, but distinct, hairs at the base. Third joint of antenii;e of the
ordinary shape.
8. NiGEiTENTKia, Meig.
HH. Arista with long hairs.
b. Posterior tibia; of S with a few long hairs upon their inner sides.
c. Surface of abdomen tessellated in the ordinary manner.
9. JuvENis, Rond. CC. Abdomen marked with three longitudinal black lines.
10. Clathrata, Meig.
♦ In this and the following species, {^s well as in many others, it is exceedingly difficult to determine the ? unless it is captured along with the <J , as the distinctive characters are peculiar to the latter sox.— R. H. M. •
+ In soino .-species there are a few scattered haii-s. — R. H. M.
1870] 219
GG. Abdomen without central spines upon the edge of the second segment.
a. Abdomen tessellated in the oi-dinary manner. Posterior tibiae of <J clothed with
short soft hairs.
11. Adolescens, Rond.
aa. Abdomen with a black central dorsal line, and lateral spots upon the posterior
margins of the segments. Posterior tibiae of ^ bare.
BB. Wings with spines upon the second longitudinal veins.
a. Abdomen tessellated in the ordinary manner.
aa. Abdomen with the spots or patches arranged in lines.
b. Eyes near together.
bb. Eyes wide apart.
12. Affinis, Fall. 13. Setipennis, Rond.
14. DissiMitis, Meig. 15. Infantula, Rond.
AA. Apex of abdomen red in both sexes.
I. Wings with the second longitudinal veins unarmed. J. Posterior tibiaj of (J bearded upon their inner sides.
K. Abdomen with two centnd spines upon the edge of the second segment.
16. HjS.MORRnOIDALIS, Zett.
KK. Second abdominal segment without central spines.
a. Black frontal stripe wider than the interval between the stripe and the eye on
each side.
17. NuEus, Rond.
aa. Frontal stripe equal in width to the space between it and the eye.
18. Ceuentata, Meig. J.J. Posterior tibia; of 6 bare.
19. H.SMAT0DE8, Meig.
II. Wings with spines upon the second as well as the fourth longitudinal veins.
20. HiEMOEEHOA, Mcig.
1. CAE>*AniA, Lin., Meig., Macq., Zett., Walk., Schiner, Roud.
striata ? Meig., Macq., TV alt., Zett., Sch.
ccerulescens ? Zett., Bond. Yellowish or wLitisli-grcy, striped and tessellated with black. Posterior tibife of ^ with long and tliick beard ; middle tibia) also more or less bearded. Four bristles in the dorsal thoracic row bcliiiid the transverse suture, and two central spines on the margin of the second abdominal segment. Length, 4 — 8 lines.*
Sead : forehead and face prominent, the latter varying in colour from pale golden-3'ellow to pure white, with dark grey reflections when viewed laterally. Frontal space from one- fourth to one-fifth of the width of the head in brradth in <J, and about one-third in 9. Frontal stripe black. Seta; upon the cheeks very small. Arista with longish hairs.
Thorax and ScutcUiim grey. Three broad black stripes extend the whole length of the back, and are continued more or less distinctly ovr r the scutelluin ; two irregular or broken stripes are also placed on each side. Ten or twelve bristles are arranged upon the sides in two or three irregular rows, and six or seven others in a lino upon each of tlio two lateral broad stripes upon the dorsum, four of which arc always placed behind the transverse suture and two or three before it. Of the posterior ones the two hindmost are the largest, then comes a small one which is sometimes obsolete, and in front of this a stronger one, though
• Ijy a Ihie, I mean one-twelfth of iiu inch, or slightly more t\i:\i\ two niillitufetres. If, H. M.
220 [March,
less than either of the two hindmost. Of those in front of the suture two are generally large, with a small one between them, and there are often one or two other minute ones nearer to the head (see fig. 1).
Abdomen tessellated on the upper sur- face with black, grey, and white patches, which reflect the light differently when viewed in different directions, but which, when looked at from behind, appear to he arranged in three black lines, and in four rows of more or less confluent white spots. ^
First segment almost unarmed, second with
two spinos placed near together in the middle of the posterior edge, and two or three others on each side. Third segment also with two central spines, and four or five lateral ones on each side, all attached to the edge of the segment. Fourth segment fringed with spines. Both anal segments in <J more or less extruded, covered with hairs, and shining black, but having a grey incision between them. Both thorax and abdomen in ? are armed as in the S , but the spines and bristles are smaller, and sometimes obsolete.
Wings : base and course of the veins more or less clouded vrith brown, costal spine small or wanting, generally more distinct in 5 than in S . Fourth longitudinal vein armed with nine or ten short spines or teeth, which extend along its base for nearly half the distance from its point of junction with the third longitudinal, to the place where it meets with the internal transverse vein. Fifth longitudinal vein bent at a sub-acute or right angle. Ex- ternal transverse vein more or less sinuous.
Lecfs : spines and hairs numerous. All the femora thickly ciliated on their under- surfaces ; those of the posterior legs armed in addition with numerous strong spines. Tibia3 all furnished with several strong spines upon their outer sides, in addition to those at their extremities ; they are very numerous upon the hinder legs. The inner surfaces of the pos- terior tibise of the <J are bearded with long hairs along their lower two-thirds, and there is also a short beard upon the hinder surfaces of the middle tibise, which becomes gradually shorter from the distal and upwards. These hairs upon the middle pair of legs vary greatly in length in different specimens, being generally lougest in the largest individuals. Those in which the beard upon the middle tibia; is very long, have been considered specifically distinct by Kondani, and constitute his species ccerulescens.* In small specimens the hairs and spines are all smaller in proportion. In the ? the legs ai-e not ciliated, and are armed with fewer spines than in the <J.
This fly is common almost everywhere. It is described as being viviparous, and its larvae are said to be deposited in either decaying animal or vegetable substances. The pupae of this and other species of Sarcophaga have often been found in the dung of animals, but this does not prove that the larvae have lived upon it. Mr. Verrall for- warded to me several specimens of a speciel^with a red abdominal extremity (cruentata) which he had bred from pupae found in jjigeon's dung. In this dung were also found the remains of dead pigeons, and it is probable that they had been the food of the larvae. '
CTo be continnedj.
* Rondani considers bis species to be identical witb the S. ccerulescem of Zetterstedt, but the latter author aaye nothing about the beard upon the middle tibiae of the 6 .- K. U. M.
1876.] 221
DESCRIPTIONS OF FIVE NEW SPECIES OF EUROPEAN SEMIPTERA-nETER OPTEEA.
by edwaed saunders, f.l.s.
Caltptoxotus Putoxi, E. S.
Caput nigrum ; thorax luridus, antea macula media magna nigi'a ornatus, basi f usco-punctata, angulis posticis nigris ; scutellum nigrum valde pimctatum ; bemelytra lurida, clavi margine interna, coriiquo vitta media, macula rotunda terminata, nigris ; clavus punetis, seriebus tribus dispositis, ornatus ; corio intus seriebus, extus iri'egulariter punctato ; mcmbrana nigra, apice utrinque macula albida notato ; pedes nigri, femoribus subter multi-spinosis, apicibus flavis, tibiis spinosis, tarsis testaceo-f useis. Antennae nigrae, articuli primi apice, quarti basi, pallidis.- f
Long. Si lin. Algeria.
Caltptonotus "Walkeei, E. S.
Caput nigro-f uscum ; thorax antea fuscus, tergo pallidus, f usco- punctatus, lateribus pallidis, impunctatis, angulis posticis maculaque prope angulum anteriorem f uscis ; scutellum nigro-f uscum, valde punc- tatum, apice utrinque lurido. Hemelytra lurida, punctis obscurioribus seriatim dispositis, fasciji lata subarcuata pone medium posita, apiceque nigris. Membrana nigra, macula apicali albida notata. Pedes tes- tacei, femoribus late fusco-fasciatis. Antenna) testacea;, articulo ultimo nigro.
Long. 2i lin. Malta. J. J. Walker.
Scolopostethus buetis, E. S.
S. decorato affinis, sed forma *S^. cofjnato magis approximatus. Ab 8. decorato distinguendus, fornux robustiore, thorace breviore et postea multo latiore, scutello basi non impressa, membrana obscuriori ; an- tennis rufo-fuscescentibus, articuld priino,8ecundique basi dilutioribus.
Longi li lin. Malta. J. J Walker.
Species forma distinctissima, licet congeueribus colore similis.
Maceopteena Lethieeeyi, E. S.
Caput nigrum ; thorax niger, valde punctatus, in medio profundo transversim impressus,basi recta; scutellum brevissimum, nigrum, apice pallido; elytra pallide straminea,basi extrema marginibusque lateralibus, pone basin interruptis, nigris. Membrana magna lactea, veuis fuscis,
222 [March,
fascia transversa lata fusca, vittse longitudinali ejusdem coloris con- juncta, iu forma criicis dispositis, ornata. Auteuna? pallidse, articalo primo, apice excepto, quartoque nigris ; femora nigra, tibiae tarsique ferruginei.
Long. 1 lin. Attica.
Oncottlus nigeicoekis, E. S.
Yirescens, pilis nigris dense vestitus, antennis nigris, breviter pilosis, articulo primo subviridi, protborace antice foveolato ; mem- brana infuscata, venis albis ; subter parcius nigro-pilosus, pcdibus viridi-flavis, femoribus praesertim infra nigro-guttatis ; tibiis nigro- punctatis et spinosis, apieibns cum tarsis nigris.
Long. 2| lin. La Eocbello. Ipse.
Species distincta et formosa.
2, Spencer Park, Wandsworth : February, 10th, 1876.
BEITISH HEMlPTERA-SETEEOPTERA—KDJilTlO^AIj SPECIES. BY J. W. DOUGLAS.
LTG^IXA.
Teapezoxotus dispae. Trapezonotus dispar, Stal, Ofv. Vet. Ak. Forb., 56 (1S72) ; Letb., Hem. Nord., 2 ed. 21 (1874).
Blact, with whitish pubescence, on the upper surface scarcely perceptible. An- tenncB comparatively long, slender, 1st joint, in the $ , orange. Rostrum orange iu the (? . Pronotum posteriorly much wider than in front, posterior third (except a spot in the middle, a smaller one towards each posterior angle, and round punctures, wliich are black), also the side margins throughout, testaceous. Scutellum immacu- late. Elytra as long as the abdomen, testaceous ; clavus with three to four rows of round black punctures ; corium with similar but less regularly placed punctures, and at the inner posterior angle a large, rhomboidal black spot ; membrane fuscous-black ; nerves whitish, broad at the base. Legs : — J , thighs orange, 2nd and 3rd pairs with a broad ante-apical black ring ; tihice : 1st and 2nd pairs orange, the 2nd black at the base, 3rd black : — ? , thighs black, apex orange ; tibicB : Ist pair rufous at the base (I have two examples in which all the tibira are deep orange, the 2nd and 3rd pairs black at the base) ; tarsi in both sexes black. Length, ^ , 2 ; ? , 2^ hues.
I found a few examples on tbe I7tb May last, in an open space among the underwood at Darentb •Wood, running swiftly in tbe sunshine.
1970.] 223
As Dr. StSl says, the Bpecics is very like T. agrestis, but it is always much larger, the testaceous colour on the upper surface lighter and clearer, the ai;teuna3 more than proportionately longer, and the pronotum comparatively wdder posteriorly. The habits and habitats are also different ; for, whereas agrestis is found hiding among moss under bushes in the open country, dispnr runs about in the daytime in woods. T. agrestishaxiug all the parts of the elytra well developed, I cannot consider T. dlspnr to be the macropterous form of it, as has been suggested.
GEEEIDINA.
Gerets aspera. Rgdromefm aspera, Fiob., Eur. Ilcm., 108, 8 (18G1), J. Sahib., Not. Fenn., xiv, 251, 5 (1875) ; Livmotrechus asper, Stal, Of v. Vet. Ak. Forh., 397, 12 (1S6S) ; Hgdrometra lacustris, var. c, Zett., Ins. Lapp., 282, 2 (1840).
<J . Black. Mead quadrangular, smooth, posteriorly with a small, elongate fovea near each eye, apex fcmiginous. Aniennce black, 1st and 2nd joints obsciiro-rufous, 1st longest, 3rd shortest, 2nd slightly shorter than the 4th. Rostrum piceons, 2nd joint ferruginous on the apical half. Pronotum: anterior portion smooth, hindwardly constricted and lobate, its sides somewhat roimdcd, incrassate ; the disc depressed, with a wide middle keel ; anterior margin with a small obtuse tubercle behind each eye ; the rest of the pronotum, except the sides, obscure-rufous, coarsely punctured and anteriorly crcnatc, the middle with a slight longitudinal keel ; the sides posteriorly raised into a long tubercle, opposite to which, on the disc, are two, very slight, trans- verse elevations : scutellar process with its posterior margin broad, flat, rounded and deeply punctured, the undercurved sides with a yellow vitta under the tubercles, in- distinctly continued forwards. Ulytra as long as the abdominal segments, black-brown, finely crenulate, anterior margin black (very often hyaline with black nerves, Sahib., 1. c). JFtw^s hyaline, whitish, slightly infiimated towards the apex. Sternumhl&c^i, silvery-sericeous, with a wide, deep, longitudinal channel, anterior to each Isfc coxa a broad, ferruginous vitta ; sides next the pronotum broadly nude, with a posterior silvery streak. Lfgs : coxcb and trochanters all pale ferruginous beucalh ; thighs, 1st pair black, broadly bright fciTuginous beneath; 2ud and 3rd pairs dull feiTuginous, paler beneath ; tibice and tarsi dark ferruginous. Abdomen black, connexivum yellowish, with a black line on the margin ; imdcr-side silvcry-ecriccous, disposed somewhat in vittaj ; the 6th segment beneath, posteriorly and on the sides yellowish, tlie posterior margin deeply and roundly excised. Qenital segments underside ; — the 1st, at the base, compressed at the sides, yellowish, the posterior margin in the middle straight, tlu'u carried on to a point at the sides of the 2nd, which is dark ferruginous, convex,
posteriorly rounded, and with a distinct, much-jjrojectiiig tubercle near its base.
Length, l^ lines.
( ^ . Tubercles of the pronotum more obsolete, 6th segment of the abdomen
beneath, posteriorly slightly emarginato, and the let genital segment obliquely
depressed at each side. iSahlb., 1. e.)
224 [March,
A single male in Dr. Power's collection taken on Moss Morran, near Balmuto, Fifeshire, August 21st, 1872.
This species is like G. Jacustris in form and size, but differs in tlio colour of its autennte, its rufous prouotum, with the yellow streak on the uudercurved sides distinct only posteriorly, its anterior legs more black, the 1st joint of the posterior tarsi shorter, the form of the genitalia, &c.
Note. — The name of the genus Hydrometra, founded by Latreille on Gimex stagnorum, Lin., was misappropriated by Fabricius to his genus Gerris, with the species of which (except stagnorum) it had nothing to do, the structure being essentially different. Most authors have adopted this error ; Burmeister, seeing the incongruity, re- separated stagnorum, but instead of restoring Latreille's generic name, he coined a new one — Limnohates (cf. Pascoe, Ann. and Mag. Nat. Hist., l^eb., 1SG8, and Dallas, Zool. Eecord, v, 353, 1869).
COEIXINA.
COEIXA PBOMIIfULA.
Corisa prominula, Thoms., Opusc. Ent., i, 38, 20 (1869).
Above fuscous-black ■with obscure yellow markings. Head obscure-testaceous, in front evidently produced, posteriorly a short, projecting keel, 'with a row of punctures on each side of it ; facial depression very slight and flat, extending beyond the angles of the eyes. Pronotum short, with six pale lines. Elytra : clavus with fine, pale, straight lines, at the base oblique but not widened, the rest often abbreviated inwardly; corium with irregular pale lines, often confluent externally, traversed by two longitudinal black lines, one close to the anterior margin and one near tho clavus broad posteriorly : marginal channel obscure testaceous, on the basal half darker and very narrow : membrane-suture pale ; membrane broadly black on the margins and in the middle, otherwise with irregular pale markings. Sternum pale. Legs dusky-testaceous, posterior tarsi clearer, with black cilia: $, tibia, 1st pair, short, tumid ; palcB broadly cultrate, rounded externally and prolonged to a point. 5 , tibicE, 1st pair not tumid; palcB narrow-cultrate. Abdomen pale beneath, base black in ^ . Length, 2^ lines.
Like G. fossarum, but differs in being rather smaller, narrower, Bides more parallel, head more prominent in front, marking more obscure, &c. Also resembles G. Scotti, but differs in being distinctly lai'ger, the pala) of the ^ much broader, &c.
This species, found by Mr. II. Jenner-Fust, in the Isle of Harris, Hebrides, in 1872, I at first sight took to be G.fossarum, but afterwards, finding it differed, I kept it separate. It has lately been identified by Dr. J. Sahlberg as G. prominula, Thoms., and, as it agrees with the description, I bring it forward as a new British species. Lee : December 27th, 1875. ^
1876.] 225
On the names of some British species of PselapJiidcB and Scydmcenidm. — Some few montli3 ago, I sent to M. F. de Saulcy, of Metz, several British species of these families, about whose correct names I entertained some doubts. M. de Saulcy has been for some time engaged on a revision of the European species of these groups of Coleoptera, and tlio first division of his work has already been published, so that his opinions are of considerable importance. I therefore give below the names imder which he returned my specimens, and have added some remarks of my own, which may help, perhaps, to throw some light on M. do Saulcy's names.
1. Tychus niger. — This specimen is a variety small in size and with red elytra, and is possibly the form recorded formerly by Mr. Crotch in his Catalogue of British Coleoptera as Tychus ibericus.
2. Batrisus venustus. — I had some doubts whether this name was correct for our species, as some of the continental species are extremely similar.
3. Bryaxis cotits, n. sp. — This is the species taken in this neighbourhood by me, and distributed under the name of Bryaxis Lefebvrei ; but, as I had become con- vinced that it was thus named by error, I sent it with the MS. name Bryaxis cotus to M. de Saulcy, who confirms my opinion of its being as yet uncharacterized, and win describe it under the name I have proposed. B. Lefehvrei was originally recorded as British in Mr. Waterhouse's Catalogue of British Coleoptera; and, though I have net seen the individual insect to which Mr. Waterhouse's record referred, I think it very probable that it wLLl also be found to be a specimen of Bryaxis cotus.
4. Euplectus Abeillei. — My two individuals, one of which is thus named by M. dc Saulcy, I captured some years ago at Mickleham.
5. Euplectus piceus. — I have found this species in the New Forest, and in one or two localities near Loudon.
6. Euplectus Duponti. — I am indebted to Mr. R. Lawson for this species : it was found by him not very long ago near Scarborough.
7. Euplectus punctatus. — My only individual of this species was given me some years ago by Mr. Crotch, under the same name as that assigned to it by M. do Saulcy.
8. Trimium brevicorne, S . — Taken by Mr. Lawson at Scarborough,
9. Trimium brevicorne, $ . — Taken by Mr. Lawson, and named in British col- lections as Trimium brevipenne.
10. ScydmcBnus Sharpi. — For this species I am also indebted to Mr. Lawson ; the few specimens of it taken by him have been named, I believe, S. rubicundus.
11. Scydmmnus ylyptocephalus, De Saulcy. — This is the insect given mo by Mr. Crotch as S. carinatus, and recorded by mo under that name in my Catalogue of British Coleoptera.
12. ScydmcBHus Sparshalli. — This individual I had considered to belong to the speciea described by Mr. Rye aa Scydmcenus prateritus.
13. ScydmcBnus helvolus. — This species was named S. Sparshalli in my collection, but I have for long suspected that there existed a confusion as to this name ; and IMr. Eye, in describing S. praiterilus, has pointed out the evidence which leads him to consider that this is really the -S'. Sparshalli of Denny : whether De Saulcy be, or be not, acquainted with Mr. Rye's opinion, I do not know.— D. Sharp, Thoruliill, Dumfries ; January 21th, 1876.
[I have at once sent M. do Saulcy a copy of the No. of this IMagazine containing my observations above mentioned ; and will make known his reply. — E. C. R]
226 [March,
Note on the Trachys nana of British collections. — A recent examination of various species of Trachys from the south of Europe, has led me to examine also tlx3 T. nana of British collections ; and, much to my astonishment, I find that our so- called examples of that species do not in any way agree with the description of Fabricius's insect of that name, as recognised by modem authorities on the Bupres- tidcB ; they have not a (comparatively) large triangular scutelluni, a distinct lateral carina to the elytra starting from the humeral callus and running parallel with the margin almost to the apex, nor is the thorax deeply foveolated near the anterior angles. Our species has a small pointed scutellum, is without lateral carinse to the elytra, and without deep foveas near the anterior angles of the thorax ; it is evidently to be referred to T. ptimila, 111., a variable and widely distributed species, occurring in France, Spain, Italy, Germany, Greece, Algeria, &c., and, according to Marseul (Mon. des Buprest., L'Abeille, ii, 515), is attached to Marruhiwm vulgare. I havo received T. pumila in numbers from Mr. J. J. "Walker, who has foimd it at Corfu and Gibraltar ; in England I believe it has only (as yet) been found at Micklcham.
Stephens (the introducer of the species into the British list) in his " Manual," says of T. nana, " elytra, within the margin a short lateral ridge," as that species- should have ; but T. nana does not exist (as the " Manual " leads one to infer) in his collection at the Brit. Mus., as I have satisfied myself by examination, so I think the record (and locality, " Coombc Wood ") must be considered erroneous. Our species is identical with examples labelled T. Fandellei, Fairm., in the Brit. Mus. Europ. coll., to which species, however, it of course bears no resemblance.
It is rather odd that two of our three British species of Trachys should have been eiToneously recorded, viz., T. pygmma (= troglodytes) and nana (= pumila).— G. C. Champion, 274, Walworth Road, London, S.E. : February 9th, 1876.
Notes on British Terehrant Hymenoptera. — The under-noted Cynipidm may be added to our lists : —
Aphilothrix autumnalis, Hartig, Germs. Zeits., 1811, p. 336; Mayr, Die Mittel- eurapaischen Eichcngallen, p. 24, pi. iv, fig. 31. The galls of this species I have found in the autumn in Caddcr Wilderness, but have not yet succeeded in reariug the flies.
Andricus cBstivalis, Giraud, Verb. z.-b. Ges. Wien., 1859, p. 356 ; Mayr, I. c, p. 55, pi. vi, fig. 79. I have an Andricus taken on 20th May at Ardlui, Loch Lomond, which must I think be either the above or a new species. The galls appear on th© male catkins of the oak.
Ceroptres arator, Hartig, I. c, p. 343, 1 have bred from some galls of Andricus noduli got in Kenmuir Wood.
.^gilips abietina, Dahlbom, Onyeh. och Callasp. Syn., tab. No. 25 ; Thomson, Ofv., 18G1, p. 412. Taken in Inverness-shire. ^. stibulifera, Thomson, I. c. Taken in the same locality. The species of this genus are rather difficidt to determine, and I hence I am a little dubious if I have named these two species correctly (Mr. Marshall, however, thinks that I have done so).
Tetrarhaplra tetratoma, Thomson, I. c, 399, 8. From Glasgow districts, where the remaining species were also taken.
Pentacrita pentatoma, Thomson, I. c, p. 398, G. P. albipennis, Thomson, I. «?., p. 399, 7 ?
1876.] 227
Eucoila tomentosa, Giraud, I. c, 1860, p. 144, 28.
SaphoJytus apicalis, Hartig, I. <?., p. 349. Bred from galls oi Andricus nodiili.
Allotria melanor/ aster, irartig, I. c, 1840, p. 200, 8 ; Giraud, I. c, 1860, p. 129, G. If this species be really distiuct from A. halterata, Thomson (a species recorded as British by Mr. Marshall, in the " Annual " for 1874), it may be added to our lists ; but, from observations I hare made, I believe it is merely halterata with the vrings fully developed. The typical halterata occurs vrith the wings in a rudimentary condition, the stumps only being present. Now, last summer I caught a specimen which agrees perfectly with halterata in size and coloration, but with one wing fully developed, and the other represented by the stump as in Thomson's insect ; and as this specimen quadrates exactly with the description of melanogaster, it seems to me clear that the one must be merely a form of the other. I feel quite satisfied that the wings are not torn off in the process of capturing ; with all the specimens that I have taken, I noticed before touching them that the wings were not present in their entirety. Thomson does not describe melanogaster, nor Hartig halterata. If I am correct iu what I say, the last mentioned name must be quoted as a synonym of melanogaster, Ilartig's name having the priority. In the collection of the Rev. T. A. Marshall, there is a specimen of halterata scarcely half the usual size, but apparently it is truly that insect. It appears to me, from the above discovery, highly probable that the other sub-apterous insects of this genus may be only forms of other species with the wings torn or dropped off ; for, judging from my specimens of halterata, it seems likely that they had the wings fully developed when they assumed the perfect state.
The following TenthredinidcB may also be included in our lists : —
Nematus consohrinus, Vollenhoven, Tidjs. Ent., 2nd ser., vi, p. 237, pi. 10. This is the gooseberry-feeder mentioned in vol. x, p. 21, of this Magazine. It has since been bred by Mr. J. E. Fletcher of Worcester.
N. allipennis (Klug), Ilartig, Blatt- u. IIolzw., 196, 22 ; Thomson, Ilymen, Scand., i, 88, 8. Dairy, Dr. Sharp.
N. ahietinus, Dahlbom, Consp., 9, 86 (1835), ^= N. alietum, Ilartig, I. c, 210, 44, pi. iv, figs. 11, 12, &c. ; Thomson, I. c, 106, 31. Tenthredo pini, Retz, De Geer ; iV. Saxesenii, N. compressus, Uart. ; N. hospes and N. limhatiis, Dbm., are synonyms. Eannoch.
N. pallidiventris, Fallen, Acta Holm., 1808, 120, 63 ; Thomson, I. c, 110, 35. Cadder Wilderness.
N. punctulatus, Dbm., Consp., 9, 89 ; Thorns., I. c, 117, 42, = N. leucotrochus, Ilartig, l.-c, 193, 18.
JV. crassus. Fallen, I. c, 106, 41 ; Thom., /. c, 123, 40. Not rare in England and Scotland on aspens. It is doubtfully distinct from N. vicinus, Lep.,and caruleo- carpus, Ilartig (which is, I fancy, the same as brachy acanthus, Thorns.), recorded in Stephen's Illustrations and the Brit. Mus. Cat.
JV. hyperhoreus, Thomson, I. c, 127. Bracmar, Dr. Sharp.
N. striatus, Ilartig, I. c, 191, 14 ; Thorn., I. c, 131, 57. Bred from Salix fusca growing at Fossil Marsh.
N. humeralis, Zettcrstedt, Ins. Lapp., 351, 41 ; Thonis. I. c, 132, 5. Worcester, Mr. J. E. Fletcher. This is, I feel certain, merely a black variety of N. striatus, and hence can scarcely be regarded as an addition, but its occurrence in this country is of interest.
228 March,
N. Zetterstedti, DaUbom, Clav'is, fig. 5 ; Thorns., I. o., 147, 78, = N. miniatus, Hartig, I. c, 129, 12. Braemar, Dr. Buchanan White.
These are all the additions that I can make at present to this genus, as, until Stephen's collection has been revised, it is impossible to say what species are men- tioned by liim, his descriptions and those of St. Fargeau being quite valueless.
N. (Croesus) latipes, Villaret, is, I believe, British. I have not seen the perfect insect, but the larva was sent me from Lancashire (I think it was from there, but have quite forgotten the exact locaUty, and by whom it was taken), and this larva I have still in my possession, preserved in spirits, and it is so distinct that there can be no mistake as to the species.
Macrophya albipunctata, Fallen, I. c, p. 104, 37 ; Thorns., I. c, 254, 8. Kannoch. Thomson quotes M. crassulus, Klug, as a synonym of albipunctata, but this is an error, as any one can see by comparing the two descriptions.
Strongylogaster delicatulatus, Fallen, = Selandria phthisica, VoUenhoven, Tidjs. Ent., 2nd ser., iv, p. 123, pi. 3, fig. 4.
\_Limneria croceipes, Marshall (ante p. 194). The locality for this species is Kingussie, not Cadder Wilderness. Uumesius crassicornis was also taken at Eingussie. Sassns Jlavolineatus, Oct., I have bred from the pupa of a Syr^jhus got on the banks of the Kelvin.] — P. Cameeon, Jun., 136, West Gx'aham Street, Glasgow : February, 1876.
On the species of Nematus described in the Entomological Magazine. — The following are the determinations (so far as I can make them) of the Nemati described by Mr. Newman in the Entomological IMagazine.
Nematus dimidiattis, vol. i, pi. 1 (larva), = Cladius viininalis, Fall.
Fristophora cincta, iv, p. 259, := either Nematus querciis or Eriehsoni, Htg. ; which, I cannot determine, as the description will fit both.
Nematus tibialis, iv, p. 260, = N. horfensis, Hartig, Blatt- und Ilolz-wespen, p. 197. As both descriptions were published in the same year (1837), I do not know exactly which name should be adopted.
Thomson (Hymen. Scand., i, p. 144) describes hortensis as having the head black, with the exception of the mouth, the feet totally pale testaceous, and the abdomen black only at the base ; while, according to Hartig, the vertex only of the head is black, the posterior tibiae and tarsi are of the same colour, and on the dorsal surface of the abdomen there is a broad black band on each segment. It is quite evident that the learned Swede has described a species quite distinct from the true hortensis.
Euura gallce, loc. cit., cannot be recognized.
E. cynips, I. c, is in the same predicament, but it may be, perhaps, N. saliceti, Fall., ^ mucronatus, Htg. — Id.
Note on Cladius Drewseni, Thomson. — I have detected some specimens of Cladius Drewseni, Thomson, Hymen. Scand., i, p. 73, 4, among a nxunber of insects (from England) belonging to Messrs. T. A. Marshall, McLachlan, and Marsh ; and I bohcvo I have Scotch specimens in my own collection. Wc have now, in Britain, all the North European species of Cladius.
Cladius cBneus, Zaddach, might reasonably be expected to occur in this country. It is very like C. Drewseni, and the larva feeds on iSalix pentandra and triandra.
1870.1 229
C. tristis, of the same author, is, I have no doubt, identical with C. Brullcei, Dbm. The specific distinctness of C. tener, Zadd., can scarcely be decided until the (J has been found. — Id.
Note on Argi/nnis Dia. — I have to announce an undoubtedly British specimen of this fritillary. It is a female, and was taken in 1872 at Worcester Park, Surrey, by a connection of my own, Master Wallace A. Smith. He could not identify his cap- ture, and placed it apart by itself. Very recently, on my looking over his insects, he drew my attention to the specimen as something peculiar : he perfectly recollects making the capture, and the exact spot where it was made. I found the specimen pinned and set in beginner's fashion. Mr. Wallace Smith has never had to do with any dealer or collector ; and, except things given to him by me, his cabinet contains nothing but what he captured himself. — W. Aenold Lewis, Temple : February liih, 1876.
A fortnight at T'entnor in October. — A fortnight's work at the ivy between Ventnor and St. Laurence in October sounds promising enough, but in fact last year I found its results not a little disappointing. The weather certainly was unfavoura- ble and cold ; it was also genei-ally moonhght, and the ivy's attraction suffered per- haps from want of concentration ; but, making every allowance for this, the returns were indeed meagre, considering the locality. Phlogophora meticulosa alone was con- sistent and unremitting in its attendance, poorly backed up by Anihocelis j^istacina and Cerastis vaccinii. My best and, indeed, only good capture was one Heliothis armijera which appeared on the 19th, a night so bleak and unprofitable that I was almost beginning to look for Dasycampa rubiginea. It was a $ , and I should have been grateful for two or three eggs, but in this respect I was not to be humoured. Other captures were Agrotis saucia (of which I amassed half-a-dozen wasted speci- mens), five Epunda lichenea (from which I obtained a few eggs — unfertilised), one Calocampa exoleta, three Epunda nigra, a few Orthosia macilenta, and one Nocttia glareosa (this last quite fresh, though on Wimbledon Common it had been over nearly a month earlier) . Of many common insects, such as Agriojns ajjriliiia, lladena protea, Orlhosia lota, and A. litura, I saw no trace.
On the 20th (the last night of my stay), the weather changed. For tho first time it was both dark and warm. En route for tho ivy, I found ichneumons so com- mon at the lamps, and was so elated by tho capture of Nonagria crassicornis in a similar situation (the first insects I had seen at light during my stay), that I foolishly broke the charm by returning for a reinforcement of pill-boxes and pins.
Bidding farewell to the ivy, I noticed what looked like a Notodonta on one of the lamps ; a climb revealed Uasypolia Templi ! Now, on this esplanade there are five lamps and no more, and on these five lamps I foiuid ten Templi, Insi two on each. Very probably there were more, as two of the lamps were diilicult of inspection, and 2e)?iju/j has a decided partiality for the dark corners and tho uprights. Curiously enough, on the other lamps in the town, many of them lighting the terraces which wind up from the esplanade, and not fifty yards distant, I could not detect a single specimen. This species seems rather common in tho North (indeed, " live females " appear to be the principal stock-in-trade of the Barnsley Entomologists), but I be- lieve it has always been scarce in the South, and the occurrence of ten specimens on half as many contiguous lamps is probably unprecedented. — C. J. Buckmasteu, Sussex Lodge, Southfields, Wandsworth : February, 1876.
230 [March,
Caradrina culicularis in February. — I took a specimen of tliis moth in my sitting room last niglit. Has its occurrence in winter been preriously noticed ? — C. A. BiiiGGS, 55, Lincoln's Inn Fields': 24f7i February, 1876.
Notes on the Tortrices of Fembrolceshire. — Penthlna cynoslatella, L. : I took a most cliarming specimen of tlie whitest form of the var. nuiiferana sitting on a hedge, in a lane near the sea clifPs.
Fenthina inarginana {ohlongana) occui's here also, though I have seen as yet but few specimens. I am still unable to persuade myself that it is at aU a rare species.
Spilonota rohorana. An unexpected form of this species has occurred : I was on the look out all the season, among the immense abundance of Rosa spinosissima on the coast for (S^. amaenana, to replace my old specimens, but, to my great sur- prise, did not find one. /S. rohorana, however, occurred commonly among that plant, having the ordinary white ground colour of the wings strongly tinged with pink, and irrorated with grey ; one or two specimens being quite suffused with the latter colour. Along with it were Peronea aspersana, Sericoris conchana, and S. cespitana, flying in plenty, the last named showmg the rich reddish and drab varieties, such as are found on the Irish coast.
Euchromia purpurana. Stray specimens occurred in the limestone quarries, but at the end of July I found it flying commonly further down the Haven, among clover and long grass, but nearly every specimen was worn to a shadow.
Euchromia ericetana. One specimen among coarse herbage.
Sciaphila perterana 1. Common on the coast and also on the shores of the Haven, and to be found some distance inland. Apparently the same species as that which is found so commonly at Folkestone, although the peculiar, almost unicolorous, wliitish-grcy form seems to be entirely absent here, and the connection is maintained solely by the better marked grey Folkestone varieties, and the females. Certainly mine are identical with specimens that I have received several times from Lancas- shlre, Paisley, and other northern localities, and which have hitherto been referred to perterana with considerable doubt, from their larger size. Pembroke specimens, however, vary in size, from that of the Folkestone examples to that of So. Fenziana. The males ai-e all grey — darker or lighter — with fairly distinct markings ; and some of them have a dark costal triangle like that upon the fore-wings of Feronea spon- sana, but the females are very handsome, — white, more or less irrorated with grey flecks, and with dark grey, well-defined markings, that in some individuals almost cause them to rival octomactdana in beauty. In length and form of wings, and in the great difference between the sexes, this species is closely allied to Fhaleroptera ictericana. Its larva feeds in blossoms of composite plants — Chrysanthemum, Crepis, Hieracium, Bellis, &c., in May and June. It turns down the i-ay florets of Chrysan- themum leucanthemum, to form a habitation, as artistically as the spiders which lurk upon the same flowers.
Capua ochraceana. Rather common along the edge of a wood of mixed growth, but without, I think, any hornbeam. Its food plant is still a puzzle.
Ephippiphora signatana. Scarce ; only obtained among blackthorn, on which I expect that the larva will be found to feed.
Dicrorampha acuminatana. I found the May and Juno brood here quite com- monly. It is well known on the continent to bo double-brooded, but, as far as I
is:*. 281
know, had only been previously taken in this country in August. Unfortunately, I had no opportunity of ascertaining "vvhether it appeared again at that time here. The females \rere of an unexpectedly rich brown colour, showing, when fresh, but little trace of the purple scales, so conspicuous in the male. Along with this species ajipcared D. ■pUimhagana and plumlana of course, also Ilalonota cirsiana in plenty ; Cochi/lis slramineana, and the lovely red varieties of Chrosis tesserana which are so little known on the continent.
Dicrorampha tanaceti. This species tui-ned up, to my great surprise, rather connuonly at Tenby, not among Tansy — there appearing to be none in the immediate neighbourhood — but sitting on and flying among largo plants of Heracleuni sphon- dylium. To me this is mysterious.
Dicrorampha consortana. A few specimens occurred in the quarries.
Catoptria cacimaculana. I am happy to Imyefotind the district in which this species is pretty common, and it is not on the chalk hills of the South of England. The mountain limestone of this district, however, seems to suit equally well all those species that can stand the climate. The best localities are the extensive quarries which skirt some of the branches of the Haven, the broken and irregular eoil of which is covered m part with a luxuriant growth of furze, blackthorn, black- berry, dewberry, and hemp-agrimony, and in part with vast masses of red valerian (Centranthus ruber), and the more scattered abundance of wild flowers which love Buch a soil. Of these, Centaurea nigra is evidently the " peculiar vanity " of ccBcimaculana, and in its seed heads I expect that the larva will be found, but pressing business and distressing weather prevented my visiting the quarries iu the autumn, and the solution of tliis question is therefore deferred for the present. As a rule, this species is exceedingly constant in colour and markings, but I met with two specimens in which all the markings and irrorations ai'o ochreous, instead of the usual brownish-grey.
Eupaecilia atricapitana. As usual, distributed all round the coast among rag- wort, but nowhere common.
Eupacilia hybridella. Occurs in the most sheltered hollows in the quarries, docs not fly freely till dusk, and is, therefore, not very easy to obtain. Not so white as specimens from the chalk, but most exquisitely tinted with rose colour.
Eupaecilia ajjfinitana. Common on the narrow strips of salt marsh along the margins of the Ilavon, occasionally flying up in tho sunshine, along with Sericoris lillurana, but more frequently to be obtained at sunset, when every few yards of marsh will sometimes produce a specimen. 1 have known it, however, for some inexplicable reason, qiuto lively in the middle of a cool windy afteraoon.
EupcBcilia vevlisana. Very rare on the strips of salt marsh which affinilana loves, but apparently attached to more sheltered spots. In a little bit of marsh only a few yards in extent, but sheltei'cd by reeds, I found it in abundance. Of these two epeciea I only mot with the Juno broud, being prevented from collecting in the autumn.
Eitpcecilia rupicota. Apparently distributed all over the neighbourhood, and in some places common. Its food plant, Eupalorium cannabinum, instead of being confined to marshy places, asserts itself in this neighbourhood, and being en- couraged by the abundant moisture, even takes entire possession of tho tops of hedge bunks, or covers tho sides with its grand masses, occupies large hollows in the sides
232 [March,
of hills in the quarries, and makes itself generally at home. Consequently, rupicola, faithfully following its fortunes, turns up in unlooked for places as an agreeable surprise. From the coarse scaling of its wings, it however very soon becomes worn ; and as it only condescends to fly for about half-an-hour — from five to half-past — in each afternoon, the capture of a really fine series is not easy. It is possible on fine days to turn out a specimen or two by disturbing the Eupatorium, but after its half-hour of very brisk flight around the plants is over it is hardly possible to find. — Chas. Q-. Baebett, Pembroke : November, 1875.
On the egg of Cymatophora ridens. — I have been greatly interested in examining the egg of this species, kindly sent me in May last by Mr. G. C. Bignell. Had he not told me to what species it belonged, and had not the larva on its appearance fully convinced me that my friend had made no mistake, I should have set it down for the egg of a Geometer, not of a JVoctua.
Its form is longish, cyUndrical, but with one end stouter and fuller than the other; the shell glossy, covered all over with irregularly-triangular reticulation, arranged in longitudinal rows not always well defined ; the colour, till just before the hatching of the larva, pale vermilion red. — J. Heliins, Exeter : November 11th, 1875.
Note on Syricthns alveolus. — I hardly know if it is worth recording that a larva, reared from an egg deposited by a butterfly of the type form, has resulted in an imago of the variety lavaterce. Haw. — Id.
Description of the larva, cf'c, of Agrotera nemoralis. — I am indebted to the kindness of Mr. H. Tugwell for eggs of this species, which reached me on the 4th of last June. Unfortimately, I was not able to place the larva?, immediately on their being hatched (June 8th) , upon their food, and from this cause most of them afterwards came to grief; they are so small and delicate that they cannot bear moving. As soon as I could, however, I procured hornbeam leaves and shoots, having been in- formed than the moths were all captured off a hornbeam hedge, and not knowing in what condition they would be most acceptable, placed leaves in all stages — young, matured, and withered — in the bottle with the larvae. Had I been able to let the laiwffi at once have access to leaves just unfolded from the bud, I have little doubt all would have gone well. As it was, their strength seemed gone, and they died off without feeding, till I thought I had not one left ; luckily this was not the case, for after waiting a few days I examined the food again carefully, and found I had one larva alive and doing well ; this fed on and throve, till about July 20th, when it spun up for pupation.
How the moth would deposit its eggs in a state of freedom, I cannot say : those sent to me were laid singly on the sides of the pill-box ; they were very soft in appearance, and though somewhat oval in outline not regularly so, very flattened, the shell finely but unevenly pitted all over, almost translucent, in fact looking like tiny spots of grease.
The newly-hatched larva has the head remarkably large for its size, and has longish bristles on the usual warts ; it is senii-translueent, pale greenish in the body, the head pale brown. When it has fixed itself with a few silken threads between two ribs on the under surface of a young leaf of hornbeam, it is at this stage almost invisible ; and for some time it lives in this way under a protection of silken threads,
1870.] 2o'3
the head still keeping its relative size, growing bigger as the body grows, until the larva is about lialf-grown ; then it begins to feed between united leaves, and the figure assumes other proportions. When full-fed, the larva is about three-quarters of an inch long, slender in figure, the head flattish and as wide as second segment' tlie body stoutest about seventh, ei::;hth, and ninth segments, thence tapering both to the head and the tail ; the anal pair of feet stretched out behind ; the skin very glassy and glistening though somewhat wrinkled : the colour of the head pale orange- brown, the antennal papilltc paler still and tipped with black, the mouth brown, the ocelli black, and a black spot at some distance behnid them on the side of the head ; the back as far do^vn as the spiracular region is of a rather brownish-olive green, the dorsal line darker olive green : an undulating row of internal darker blotches runs along in an interrupted manner a little above the spiracles, showing plainly through the translucent skin ; the spiracles very small and inconspicuous, being of the ground colour ringed with brown ; below them the rest of the side, and the belly and legs, are of a uniform tint of very pale watery-olive greenish ; there is a fine hair from each tubercular situation.
By the end of the third week in July, that is after feeding about six weeks, the larva spun up, forming for itself a cocoon in a very clever manner from a leaf of hornbeam ; taking as its standpoint a spot nearly in the centre of the midrib, equi- distant that is from the tip of the leaf and the footstalk, and cutting through the midrib itself at that point, but leaving about one-eighth of an inch of the leaf uncut to serve as a footstalk to its cocoon, it proceeded to make two semi-circular cuts towards the tip of the leaf, but at a slight inclination towards the left, so that further on the midrib was again severed by the right cut, and the place where the two cuts met was on the left edge of the leaf (looking at it, that is, from above) not very far from the tip ; using then the midrib of this semi-detached circular piece as the back- bone of its structure, the larva bent down the two sides of the piece, and fastened them together all along their edges ; the cocoon thus formed is rounded along the upper outline, and with its sides rather flattened till they meet in the shai*p lower edge. — Id.
Description of the larva, ^c, of Fterophorus diclirodactylus. — On .Tuno 8th, 1S75, Mr. John Sang, of Darlington, very kindly sent me several larva; of this species, in various stages of growth, mining witliin stems of Tanacetum vulgare.
As soon as their food began to wither, fresh sprays of tansy were provided for the larva), which, often as this occurred, readily left the old stems to commence mining into the fresh ones.
The mouth of the mine is generally between the axil of a leaf and the stem, with a few silk threads spun from one to the other, just above it, among which the dark olive or blackish frass becomes entangled, as the larva pushes it out from time to time in its course head downward ; the quantity there increases more and more, xmtil at length the accumulation becomes very conspicuous, and betrays the presence of the larva.
Wliile immature, the larva is darker in its colouring than it afterwards becomca ; it is blackish-green when not more than a quarter of an in(;h long, glaucous-grccn with grey stripes when about three-eighths in length ; but, when full-grown, the larva measures a little more than half an inch, its figure moderately slender, cylindrical, and tapering a little from the third segment to the head, which is rather rounded ;
2,34 [March,
it tapers also from the eleventh segment to the end of the thirteenth : the segmental divisions are well defined on the back, and rather deeper on the belly ; the legs all tolerably ■weU developed.
The colour of the head is very pale, either of a broAvnish-yellow or greyish- yellow, semi-pellucid and shining, the ocelli large and blackish, the mouth blackish- brown ; on the second segment, is a shining plate of the same colour as the head, bearing minute blackish dots, and another plate of similar tint is on the anal tip ; the rest of the back is either a lively green, or else a rather subdued transparent light green, bearing a dark olive brownish pubescent or bristly dorsal line ; a naked stripe of opaque greyish, or whitish-grey, follows at a short interval, on wliich the minute tubercular black dots are visible ; then comes the sub-dorsal thinner stripe of the trsnsparent greenish groimd colour, and then another naked thin stripe of greyish, which is succeeded by a broad lateral band of the ground colour, but so thickly covered by a minute bristly kind of brown pubescence as to assume an olive hue, and just within its lower margin are the circular brownish-red spiracles, outlined with black, and suri'ounded with a ring of naked ground ; beneath them runs an inflated and puckered stripe of opaque greyish- white, relieved below by a line of the brown pubescence ; the belly and all the legs are of the pale greenish-ground colour, and but very slightly pubescent ; on the belly, between each pair of the anterior legs, at their base, are two black spots ; the ventral legs tipped with dark brown.
The pupa, which is attached by the tail to the stem, or to a leaf, is half an inch in length, slender, with a longish beak in front projecting at a slight angle downwards from the head, pointed at the tail ; the wing-covers of moderate length, well developed, and the ends of the leg-cases projecting free from the abdomen : its figure, in repose, is a little curved, so as to be concave on the back. In colour it varies, some examples being very pale greenish, others hght pinkish-grey, while others again are dark reddish-grey : in the pale green variety the characteristic darker markings, though partially present in deeper tints of greenish, are more tenderly rendered than in some of the greyish varieties, which arc marked as follows : the beak is white above, and black at the sides ; on the thorax a blackish-brown dorsal stripe widens and then narrows, and from thence passes down of uniform width to the tail ; on the thorax it is margined with a Line of white ; the sub-dorsal line is blackish-brown and rather interrupted ; between this and the dorsal stripe, on each segment, are double dark brown streaks a little divergent ; these are strongly marked on the anterior segments, but more faintly, by degrees, on the hinder ones ; at an interval below the sub-dorsal, another brown line occurs, rather interrupted ; the lateral line is white, bordered beneath by a stripe of black ; the ventral surface of each segment has a broad central somewhat squarish mark of light brownish-grey, and a fine sub-ventral Hue of similar tint mucli interrupted ; the wing-covei-s brownish-grey with whitish rays.
The moths appeared at intei-vals from the 28th Juue to the 5th July. — Wil. BrcKLEK, Emsworth : January 28th, 1876.
Description of the larva, c^'c, of Pterophorus microdactyhis. — To Mr. Wm. H. Grigg, of Bristol, I have been indebted for the good opportunity afforded me of studying this interesting plume lai'va, by his very kindly sending me a number of examples on the 26tli Jidy, 1875, which, two days before, he had found in the flowering stems of Eupatorium cannabinum.
1870.] 235
Mr. Grigg also acquaiuted me with Ids having taken, al the game time and place, nine fresh specimens of the moth, at the very spot where they occurred plentifully in May of the previous year, — hence he inferred the insect to be double-brooded.
I foimd it no easy matter to keep the stems, in which these larvae were living^ from either drying up or turning mouldy ; from these mishaps, and from the larvte refusing to enter the fresh stems provided for them, most of the number died : — however, I was at length well pleased at being able to breed three specimens of the moth on August 8th, 9th, and 19th, and a fourth a fortnight later, thus satisfactorily proving their identity.
Most of these larvse were mining, singly, within the stems, near to the axils of the leaf stalks, though three or four had their mines situated midway between the axillary branchings near the top of the plant ; the small hole at tlie entrance of a mine is not very readily detected, for although frass is probably extruded from it, especially at first, yet I found none hanging outside the entrance, and only a fine dust at the bottom of their cage gave evidence that a small quantity must occasionally have fallen out of the holes ; the mines always appeared lightly filled up from within, just level with the surface of the stem, and so the orifices not contrasting much in colour, were not very conspicuous from being no more than one-sixteenth of an inch in diameter.
The youngest larva examined I found to be just one-eighth of an inch long, and possessed of all the details of form, colour, and other characteristics thst so well distinguish this species of Pterophorus from any I have as yet seen, inasmuch as it is furnished with rough points or hooks, in many respects much like those we know so well on the pupce of Cossus and of Hepialus ; doubtless these arc both for support and progression within the very tough stem where it resides.
The full-grown larva is one quarter of an inch in length, plump in proportion, in general figure somewhat cylindrical, but tapering forwards to the head, which is smaller than the second segment, the last three segments also tapering to the anal tip ; the anterior legs are but little developed, while the ventral and anal legs are so exceedingly small as to bo with difllculty detected even witli a lens ; the segments are well-defined, the first third of each, after the thoracic segments, is clean cut backwards with an upward slope, and the summit of this slope is crested with a row of minute rough points, or blunt hooks, extending unbroken across the back, rather near towards the spiracular region ; on the middle portion of the remainder of each of these segments is a broadish oblong transverse band of the rough points dorsally divided by a naked, or nearly naked, interval of smooth skin ; similar points occur also across the thoracic segments, but in a narrower shape, and on the second they fill up the usual form of plate there ; those on the twelfth segment, and the front of the tliirtceuth, are very much coarser, and closely aggregated.
The colour of the shining head is light yellowish-brown, tinged with deeper brown on the crown of each lobe, the ocelli and mouth darker brown again ; the body is of a slightly livid flesh colour, becoming a trifle paler and yellower on the three or four hinder segments ; a distinctly paler dorsal line is visible, and bisects both the bands of blackish rough points, and the anterior plate of them, though on this last it is a mere fine thread ; the skin generally is smooth, and glistens a little ; the spiracles are circular, a trifle raised, wart-like, brown in colour, with a whitish
236 IMarcb,
centre ; above each spiracle is a w.irt-likt^ 1 iihercailar slight, eminence ; on the eloping surface, in front of the segments, arc a pair of transrersely elongate oval black -brown rough spots ; the anal tip is dark brown.
On August 2nd, I opened a stem and found the pupa lying in a small cleared space just above the middle of the mine, its head uppermost in a slanting direction towards the entrance, its tail steadied by a few threads spun on some frass, of which the mine below was fidl, there was some also above, and a little about the entrance, dry and mixed with silk : the pupa itself was a quarter of an inch long, rather slender, the thorax rounded and well-defined, emitting a few bristly hairs, the head and eyes rather prominent, wing-covers long, the leg cases reaching to the penultimate abdo- minal ring from which they hung free ; on the abdomen were sub-dorsal, lateral, and sub-spiracular rows of blunt hook -like processes, in pairs, those on the last ring the most projecting : the whole surface rather glistening, and the colour a dark bronzy- green. — Id.
Sphinx convolvuli at Epsom. — As I have seen so many instances of the occur- rence of Sphinx convolvuli in 1875 noticed in your Magazine, it may not be uninter- esting to your readers to give four more. On the 17th September, a beautiful specimen was brought me by a gardener, who topk it on some palings close by ; anotlicr was sent mc on the 23rd September by some gentlemen, who caught it while smoking in a verandah ; a few days after this, two more specimens were seen flying round a holly tree on the lawn. — A. V. Jones, The Slirubbery, Epsom : January 2,Uh, 1876.
Note on svgaring. — I think your correspondent, Mr. W. Sandison (ante, p. 207), should have had more than one evening's ti-ial before piiblishing his ex- perience of sugaring near ivy when in bloom. He says, " the night was peculiarly favourable for the trial," &c. He ought to liavo stated if there had been rain during the earlier part of the day, or if a heavy dew were on the ground ; as it is well known that flowers saturated with wet lose'their attraction for insects. I am led to suspect this was the case, as Mr. Sandison says he only found five or six moths on the ivy, whilst they occurred in profusion on the sugared sticks. His theory would have been much more conclusive had tlie moths been plentiful on the ivy flowers, as well as on the sugar, for of course, if the flowers were wet, the greater probability of the moths being attracted to the sugared dry sticks placed on the gi-ound by your correspondent. — Gko. T. Pokkitt, Huddersficld : February Uh, 1876.
Capture of living Hemipiera, natives of the Cape of Good Hope, in the London Bocks. — Early in September last, the brother of a friend of mine observed, upon a piece of old sail at the river entrance of these docks, some creatures in motion, and having procured a boat hook or an instrument of a similar kind, he succeeded in landing the fugitives — three in number. They were handed to me, and I soon ascertained they were the Cryptacrus jnnguis, G-erm. They appeared to be as healthy as though they had been snatched from off their food plant, and had evidently fared well on their passage hither. What they could have subsisted upon is a mystery, as tlie vessel in which they are supposed to have come, either the " Princess of Wales " or the " Antipo<lcs," brought only the usual cargo of hides, tallow, wool, &c., from
1870.1 287
Die place. One of Ihera since lived for six weeks upon a very liberal allowance of blotting paper, saturated with water fi-oui time to time. — John Scott, Lee : 13th January/, 1876.
Von Sails Marschlins : another addition to Sagen^s BibUotheca. — To the three references of insect literature ascribed to this writer in Dr. Hagen's inraluablc work, must be added the following, which I stumbled on in Anthony Aufrere's translation from the Q-erman (1795) of " Travels through various provinces of the Kingdom of Naples in 1789, by Charles Ulysses of SaUs Marschlins," pp. 102 and 103. The original work I have been luiable to see. . In speaking of the two islands situated at the entrance of the outer harbour of Taranto, called " Cha;rades " (obviously a mis- print for Chocrades) by Thucydides, afterwards " Electrides," and then Santa Pelasgia and Sant' Andrea, he gives the following results of an excursion to the former of them : — " In the meanwlule I hunted for insects, or looked for shells upon the shore. " Of tlie former I found only these few. Scarabseus sticticus ; ScarabfEus hirtcllus ; " Silpha atrata, and the following SUpha, which I could not find either in Linnaeus " or Scopoli, the only entomological books to bo met with at Taranto. Silpha tota " atra, opaca, sutura nitente, linea unica elcvatiuscida, subtus nitidissima, thorace " subdcntata, antennis extremitatibus fuscis ; if not otherwise described, it might be " called Silpha Chceradica.
" Chrysomela speciosa ; Ciniex Hyosciami ; Papilio Algira ; Papilio rubi ; Pha- " la;na geometra undulata ; Phalrona geomctra tota tcstacca ; Phala;na Tinea "ColoneUa; Empis pennipes, and Tipula rivosa."
It may be of interest to Conchologists to note that this work contains an appen- dix, pp. 435 — 513, with four coloured plates (vi — ix), entitled "A Catalogue of such Shells " [85 species] " as came to my knowledge out of the sea, that bounds the Kingdom of Naples," in which the literature of the subject is reviewed, and the fol- lowing new species described : Patella scissa, p. 449, pi. vi, fig. 1, Conus humilis, p. loi, Murex fusiformis, ip. 463, M. SanctcB-LucicB, p. 464, pi. vii, fig. 6, Turbo Jlammeus, p. 471, pi. viii, fig. 11, Haliotis pelhicida, p. 475, Solen violaceus, p. 477, pi. ix, fig. 12, Tellina fasciata, p. 479, Mytilus solen, p. 505, pi. ix, fig. 5. — E. C. Rye, 11. a. S., 1, Savile Eow, W. : February, 1876.
An insect organ builder. — The Acacia groves extend (country of the Shillooks) over an area of a hundred miles square, and stretch along the right bank of the stream. The kind which is most conspicuous is the A. fistula, and which is as rich as any other variety in gummy secretions. I choose this definition of it from its Arabian apellation " soffar," which signifies a flute or pipe. From the larvtc of insects which have worked a way to (he inside, their ivory white shoots are often distorted in form and swollen out at their base with globular bladders, measuring about an inch in diameter. After the mysterious insect has unaccountably managed to glide out of its circular hole, this thorn-like shoot becomes a sort of musical instrument, upon which the wind as it plays produces the regular sound of a flute ; on this account, the natives of the Soudan have named it the whistling tree. [Schweiufurth's "lleart of Africa," vol. i, pp. 97, 98].
Proposed list of insects found in Kent and Surrey. — The Council of tlie South London Entomological Society have decided to attempt the publication of a list of
238 [March.
insects found in Kent and Surrey ; and, for the purpose of showing, &a fully as pos- sible, the distribution of Lepidoptera in these two counties, I renture to ask for help from entomologists who are able to furnish local lists, more especially of districts above twenty miles from London. — J. Platt Baebbtt, 34, Radnor Street, Peckham.
Entomological Society of London: Anniversary Meeting, 2Uh January, 1876.— Sir S. S. Saundees, C.M.a., President, in the Chair.
The following gentlemen were elected Members of the Council for the present year, viz. : H. W. Bates, F.L.S., A. G-. Butler, F.L.S., G-. C. Champion, J. W. Dun- ning, M.A., F.L.S., F. Grut, F.L.S., Sir J. Lubbock, Bart., &c., R. McLachlan, F.L.S., R. Meldola, F.C.S., Rev. R. P. Murray, M.A., Sir S. S. Saunders, C.M.ft., H. T. Stainton, F.R.S., Prof. J. O. Westwood, M.A., F.L.S., and J. J. Weir, F.L.S. Prof. Westwood was elected President, and Messrs. J. J. Weir Treasurer, F. Grut and R. Meldola Secretaries, and W. E. Poole Librarian.
An Address was read by the outgoing President, which was ordered to be printed ; and the meeting terminated by a vote of thanks to the retiring ofEcers, Messrs. McLachlan and Jauson acknowledging the same.
February 2nd, 1876. — The President, who was absent, appointed Sir S. S. Saunders and Messrs. Bates and Stainton as Vice-Presidents for the year. Sir S. S. Saunders took the Chair.
E. Y. Western, Esq., was elected a Member.
Messrs. McLachlan and Bates called attention to the habits of Cychrus cylin- dricollis, Pini, from Mont Codeno, as detailed by M. Baudi in the " Petites Nouvelles entomologiques " for February 1st. This species, which has only been found in the locality named, attacks a species of Helix {U.frigida), its long head and prothorax enabling it to penetrate the interior of the snail shell.
Dr. Sharp communicated a paper on the StaphylinidcE of the Amazon Valley, chiefly worked up from the materials collected by Mr. Bates. Ke described 487 species, of which 467 were new ; but he estimated the probable number existing in the Amazon regions at 4000 to 5000. Naturally, many new genera were included. Being interrogated as to the proportion the small forms of Insecta bear to the larger in a tropical country, Mr. Bates said he believed it would prove the same as tliat which we find in Europe, but the larger forms were, of course, more commonly cap- tured in a country where so many new and fine species were to be found.
6bituari|.
Br. Ludwig Redtenhacher. — It is with great regret that we record the loss of this well-known Coleopterist, who died at Vienna on the 8th ulto., after a long illness, in his 63rd year. The list of his works is not a long one, for he was no voluminous distributor of separate copies ; nor did ho habitually describe new species (though his contributions to science in that respect with regard to the voyage of the Novara, and also Kotschy's collections from Syria and the western Taurus, are well known) ; but his excellent descriptive treatise on the Coleoptera of his country, forming a thick volume of the " Faima Austriaca," and of which he lived to see the completion of a third edition, will always keep his name familiar to European Colo- opterists, if only for the sake of its instructive introductory portion. Dr. Redten- hacher was for many years Director of the Royal Vienna Zoological Museum. He retained his interest in Entomology to the last ; and scarcely a month before his decease made a careful examination of types and communicated some resulting ob- servations io this Magazine. •
1S76.) 230
ON CERTAIN BRITISH HEMIPTEHA-HOMOPTERA.
BT JOHK SCOTT.
Revision of the 'Family DELTOCEPnALii)^, xcith descriptions of new and hitherto unnoticed British species.
This forms the 3rd of the sub-genera into which Burmeister in his " Genera Insectorum " divided his genus lassus. Of his remaining sub-genus, Plafi/jfietojjius, there is no British representative known, although, from the wide range of one of the species (P. undatus), it might be expected to occur here. But by far the most perplexing of the whole group is that with which I am at present dealing ; minute in size, and as unstable in colour and markings (in many of the species) as it is possible to conceive, I find it an almost hopeless task to convey anything like certainty in the descriptions as to which species is meant, although I have done my best to do so, and therefore a careful exami- nation of the genitalia is alone sufiicient to enable students to deter- mine between them. For those who do not work with the microscope, but who do or can possess the " Verhaudlungen d. K. K. z.-b. Gesell- schaft in Wien," vol. xix, in which is Dr. Fieber's Synopsis of the European species, the examination of the form of the posterior margin of the last segment of the abdomen of the $ of the various species, and comparison with the figures which he there gives, will modify considerably the difficulties encountered on the threshold of the task, and this can be accomplished with the aid of an ordinary lens. These insects are most generally met with by sweeping among heath, or in meadows, or on the margins of fields and woods, and in some instances occur in countless profusion. All our species may be said to consist of two kinds, viz., green or yellow and oceUate, and I have so sec- tionized them in the following paper, imperfect although I fear it is, believing that more case will be experienced by those who try to work them out by this thau any other method.
Section A. Green or yellow species. 1. Apex of the elytra without a black margin.
Very pale green, slightly farinose. Face pale brown ; round the upper margin a broad black line interrupted at the apex.
Head — crotcn pale brownish-yellow, somewhat farinose ; width between the eyes at least one-third shorter than the length down the centre ; sides between the anterior margin of the ej'es and the apex equal to the breadth across the former ; on each side of the apex a very short, slightly diagonal, black streak. Face pale brown, with a white cen- tral longitudinal line, widest on the frons, and six or seven transverse white lines on
21-0 [March, 1876.
each side, the first two or three faintly bi-imdulate ; upper margin with a broad black line, interrupted at the apes, and joined to the short streaks on the crown ; side margins very narrowly black, most perceptible from the upper margin to in a line with the in- sertion of the antennae. AntcnncB verj^ pale brown ; setce brown towards the apex.
Thorax — -pronotum very pale yellowish-green, slightly shining, slightly farinose ; length down the centre about equal to one-half the breadth ; posterior margin almost straight across the scutellum. Scutelhim pale yellowish, slightly farinose. Elytra as long as the abdomen, pale green, slightly farinose, somewhat shining ; nerves fine, pale, almost white. Sternum pale yellow. Mesosternum with a large, almost round, black spot on each side. Legs pale j'ellow. Tibim : 3rd pair with a short, fine, black line on the inner margin at the base; spines pale, inserted in small brown punctures. Tarsi of all the pairs pale yellow. Claws brown.
Abdomen pale yellow. Length, Ij line.
1. LONGICAPUT, n. Sp.
This species will be most easily recognised by the long head, black line on the upper margin of the face, and the almost round black spot on the mesosternum. I only possess a single ? , but have no record of the date of capture. It has been compared not only with the Fieberian collection, but also with hia drawings, and differs from everything therein contained.
Very pale green, shining. Crown pale greenish-yellow ; length down the centre about equal to the width across the anterior margin of the eyes ; apex on each side with a short, slightly diagonal, black line. Face pale yellow, with four broad, transverse, black lines on each side, the upper one broadest and joined to those on the crown ; apex l)roadly pale yellow. Cheeks black, lower margin yellow. Lorce yellow, upper margin black.
Thorax— pronotum and scutellum pale greenish-yellow. Elytra very pale green, shining, <J longer than the abdomen, $ as long as the abdomen ; nerves fine, almost white. Legs pale yellow. Thighs : 1st and 2nd pairs with a broad black ring near, and a nar- row one of the same colour in, the middle ; 3rd with a black line along the upper and under-side, not reaching the apex ; upper margin black. Tibice pale yellow ; inner margin of all the pairs narrowly black ; 2nd and 3rd, outer margin with pitchy-black punctures, in which are inserted the pale spines.
Abdomen : 6 , underneath piceous, sides broadly brown or brownish-}'ellow ; last segment yellow; genital segments yellow, clothed with long pale hairs. Length, l\ line.
2. MuLSANTi, Fieb., = striifrons, Kirschb.
This species has a shorter crown than the foregoing, and neither is the apex so acute ; the black transverse streaks also, sloping rapidly off towards the lower margin of the eyes, sufficiently serve to separate them.
Apparently scarce. Taken by Mr. Douglas and myself at Croydon in June.
Yellow. JElytra slightly longer than the abdomen, pale, almost transparent ; nerves fine, white.
B^ead — crotcn and/are yellow, without markings ; length of the former down the centre equal to the breadth across the anterior margin of the eyes ; anterior margin aud apex
April, 1876] 241
Thorax— pronntnm and scuteUttm yellow. Elytra slightly longer than the abdomen, pale, almost transparent ; nen-es fine, white. Legs yellowish-white. Tibice : 2nd and 3rd pairs with pale spines. Tarsi whitish. Clatvs brown.
Abdomen: ?, beneath, pale; next the posterior margin of the last segment with a small black spot on each side, in a line with the base of the ovipositor; genital segments pale, Bomcwhat thickly clothed with long pale hairs. Length, If line.
3. METKIU8, Flor.
The absence of markings on the head and other parts of this insect, as well as the form of the posterior margin of the last abdominal segment of the ? , with the two black spots, sufficiently indicate its distinctness from all other British species.
Seemingly very scarce. I only possess a single example.
Smoky testaceous. Croioit with a large, somewhat round black spot on each side in front of the anterior margin of the eyes.
Head — crown with a small black spot on each side of the apex, and two others larger and somewhat round in front of the anterior margin of the eyes. Face black, with four or five short, fine, transverse, yellowish-white lines on each side, becoming shorter as they descend ; frons always broadly yellowish. Clt/peus pitchy black, margins yellow. Lores black, or with yellow margins.
Thorax — -pronotiim and scidellnm dusky testaceous. Elytra longer than the abdo- men, yellowish, semi-transparent, nerves fine, yellowish, of the same colour as the corium at the base ; apical areas not margined with fuscous or black. Legs testaceous. Thighs more or less pitchy-black at the base. Tibice : 3rd pair black, base narrowly testaceous ; spines testaceous. Tarsi : 3rd pair black.
Length, 1^ line. 4. MACULiCKrs, Boh.
Differs from all other British species by the two large black spots on the crown.
The only specimens I have seen were taken by the Rev. T. A. Marshall, at Wimbledon, in July.
Pale yellowish. Elytra as long as the abdomen ; central apical area with a minute brown spot next the exterior margin.
Head — crown with a narrow brown streak along the anterior margin on each side of the apci, and two more or less distinct brown patches, one adjoining the an- terior margin of the eyes, the other at the posterior margin ; length down the centre about equal to the distance between the eyes on the posterior margin. Face more or less brown, with five to six transverse yellowish- white lines on each side, interior extremities somewhat knotted or comma-shaped. Clgpeus, cheeks, and lorce yellow. AntenncB yellow ; set<B brownisli.
Thorax — pronotum dingy yellow. Scutellum yellow. Elytra pale yellowish, nerves yellowish-white; central apical area with a minute brown spot exteriorly. Sternum yellow. Frosternum in the middle, black. 3Ieso- and Melasternum more or less blackish on the sides, i*"^* yellow. Tibice: 3rd piiir at llic base
242 lAprii.
on the inner edge, with a short, dark brown streak ; apei narrowly brown. Tarsi yellow ; 3rd pair, apex of the Ist and 2nd joints narrowly, and 3rd broadly, brown. Abdomen : $ , above, black ; posterior margin of the segments very narrowly yellow, joined to a triangular pateh of the same colour on the sides; connexivum yellow, margins of the segments very narrowly black ; genital segments yellow ; ? , above, yellow, with a broad, black dorsal patch on three or four basal seg- ments ; beneath yellow ; posterior margin of the last segment straight.
Length, 1^ line.
5. FLATIPENNIS, M. Sp.
The characters on the head very much resemble those on D. striatus, and I believe it will prove to be an extreme variety of that species.
2. Apes of the elytra with a black or dark brown margin.
Dark green, bluish-green, or greenish-yellow.
Sead : after death yellow. Crown with a very short, somewhat oblique, black or dark brown streak on each side of the apex or sometimes obsolete. Face black, or the upper half only black, with five to seven narrow, transverse yellowish- white lines on each side. Clypeus and lores frequently narrowly margined with black or dark brown, and the former, sometimes, with a dark streak down the middle.
Thorax — -pronotum and sonfelhtm, after death, yellow. JElytra dark green, bluish- green, or greenish-yellow, opaque ; exterior margin of the apical areas narrowly dark brown or black. Legs yellow. Tliighs : 1st and 2nd pairs with two narrow black bands, one near the middle and the other before the apex, sometimes only indicated by spots, and sometimes obsolete ; 3rd, with a black line along the upper margin at the apex, and generally a broad black streak along the upper and under-sidcs not reaching the apex. TibicB : 3rd pair broadly black down tlie inner margin, or frequently black with the base narrowly pale. Tarsi : 3rd pair black ; base of the 1st joint orange. Length, Ij — 2 lines.
6. ABDOMINALIS, Fab.
Easily recognised by the dark green colour of the elytra and the black or dark brown margin to the apical areas.
Not rare, by sweeping in damp places from June to end of August.
3. Apical areas faintly margined with fuscous.
Very pale green or greyish-green.
J^ead — crown pale yellow or sometimes brownish ; length down the centre almost
equal to the width across the anterior margin of the eyes ; anterior sides
slightly convex ; apex acute, on each side of the latter a black spot or very short
• streak, frequently wanting. Face dark bnown with a white or wliitish central
IS76.] 2t3
longitudinal line, and ou each side about six transverso lines similarly coloured, their inner extremities somewhat knotted or comma shaped. Clypeus, cheeks, and lorce yellowish or yellowish-white.
Thorax — pronotum and scutellum yellow or pale greenish-yellow. Mi/tra very pale green or greyish-green, almost transparent ; ^ , slightly longer than the abdomen, $ , barely as long ; nerves pale greenish-yellow ; apical areas sometimes very narrowly margined with fuscous. Legs as in D. Midsanti, but sometimes the markings are more or less obUterated.
Abdomen : J , above, black ; posterior margin of the last four segments and the side margins yellow ; beneath, black ; genital segments short, black or piceous j ? , posterior margin of the last abdominal segment slightly concave.
Length, 1^ line.
7. ASSiiriLis, Fall, {nee J. Sahlberg).
The different characters on the face, and the short bhick genital segments of the ^ will at once show where this sx^ecies varies from D. Midsanti, to which it is nearly related.
It seems to be rather uncommon. It has been taken by Mr. Douglas and myself in the Isle of AVight, in July.
Pale greenish-yellow.
Head — crown pale yellow or brownish ; length down the centre not so great as the width across the anterior margin of the eyes ; apex scarcely acute ; anterior sides slightly convex ; on each side of the apex a short black streak, almost parallel with the centre. Face dark brown, with five to six fine, yellowish-white, transverse lines on each side, becoming shorter as they approach the apex. Clypeus yellow, with a broad dark brown streak down the centre. Cheeks not unfrequently brown, with the exterior and lower margin yellow ; lores yellow, margined with brown.
Thorax — pronotum and scutellum yellow or greenish-yellow. Elytra pale greenish- yellow ; nerres yellow ; apical areas more or less pale fuscous, icy* pale yellow with markings similar to those in D. assimilis.
Abdomen : <J , above, black, with a slight bluish tinge ; side margins broadly yellow, with a small black puncture in the centre on each segment ; last segment yellow ; genital segments yellow ; beneath, black, genital segment yellow ; valve black, narrowly margined with yellow ; plates at the base, black ; $ , posterior margin of the last abdominal segment beneath with a narrow triangular notch in tho centre, and the sides deeply concave. Length, 1', — 1^ line.
8. MiNKi, Fieb. = assimilis, J. Sahib.
Very like Z>. assimilis, but both sexes are easily distinguished from that species by the longer and differently coloured genital segmenta of the (^, and the shape of the posterior margin of the last abdominal segment (underneath) of the ? .
I have introduced this species as new to Britain, on specimens named for mc by the late Dr. Ficber. Three examples of the above
2U [April,
were sent to Dr. J. Sahlberg for identification, who returned them ■with the name D. assimilis; but, on examination of the genitalia, I find they agree exactly with Fieber's figures of the insect now described. Under these circumstances, I have referred D. assimilis, Sahib., to D. Minki, Fieb.
Pale yellowish or brownish-yellow. Elytra : anterior margin very pale yellowish- white.
Head — crown yellow ; length down the centre about equal to the width across the anterior margin of the ejes ; anterior sides slightly convex ; apex with a very short, nearly straight black streak on each side, and sometimes another along the margin ; occasionally both ai'c obsolete. Face more or less dark brown, with a more or less distinct narrow pale longitudinal line, and on each side about seven transverse whitish lines, sloping off in a line with the upper margin of the lorse, inner extremities of two or three on the fi'ons somewhat knotted or comma- shaped ; intervening brown spaces broadest. Cheeks and lorcB yellowish, or the former brown, with the exterior and lower margin yellow, and the latter nar- rowly margined with brown.
Thorax — pronotum and scutellum yellow. 'Elytra pale yellowish or greenish-yellow, semi-transparent, $ longer, $ as long as the abdomen; nerves fine, almost white ; anterior margin very pale yellowish-white, broadest at the base ; apical and apices of the adjoining ante-apical areas faintly brownish, sometimes with very narrow somewhat darker margins. Legs yellow. Thighs : 1st and 2nd pairs with or without the usual bands ; 3rd with a black line along the upper margin at the apex ; upper and under-side with a broad black longitudinal streak, not reaching the base or apex. Tibia : 3rd pair yellow, with a more or less broad black line inside next the inner mai'gin ; outer margin with black punctures, in which the pale spines are set. Tarsi yellow, or with a fuscous shade. Length, 1^ — IJ line.
9. PASCUELLUS, Fall.
In the form of the genitalia, very like D. MinJci, the most per- ceptible difference being simply a deeper sinuation on the sides of the posterior margin of the last abdominal segment of the $ of that species. Another difference is in the total or almost total absence of the pale yellowish-white anterior marginxof the elytra of the last named. As the extremes of variation constantly occur in this genus, it is possible that these two species are not really distinct.
Pale yellowish-white. Elytra pale, almost transparent ; apex of the ante-apical area adjoining the inner apical one with a dark brown spot.
Head — croivn pale yellowish-white, with a narrow black line in front on each side of the centre, sometimes interrupted or obsolete. Face brown, with a whitish central line, and about six transverse white lines on each side. Cheeks and lora . yellowish. ^
(To he continuedj.
isrc.) 245
XOTES ON SOME BRITISH DOLICHOPODIDM, WITH DESCRIPTIONS OF NEW SPECIES.
BY G. H. VERHALL.
(continued from page 198.)
The species of the genus Chrysotus are some of the most difficult to distinguish iu the whole of tlie DoJichopodidce. In my list of 1872, I only recognised four British species (C. Icesus, cupreus, gramineus, and neglectus). I can now distinguish, with more or less certainty, ten species, chiefly by the help of a recent monograph of the European species by Kowarz, in Verh. zool.-bot. Ges. Wien, xxiv, 187-i. He seems to find the species very difficult to group, and is obliged to form a separate table for each sex to distinguish the species. His material consisted of sixteen species, in all of which he knew the male, but in four of which he knew that sex only. His first division in the males comprises two species only, which have the femora almost entirely yellow ; both of these occur in Britain ; they are : —
CHBYSOTrS NEGLECTUS, AVicd.
A species well distinguished in the male sex by its entirely yellow femora, large size, and black-haired front coxa? ; the female is very variable in the colour of the legs, but maybe distinguished from allied species by its rather larger size, black-haired front coxae, yellowish hind trochanters, rather small third joint of the antennae, and entirely yellow hind til)ife ; the femora vary from almost entirely yellow to al- most entirely black. 1 have caught it at Footscray, Penzance, Upware, and near Southend, in June and July, but have never found it common.
C, CILIPES, Mg.
This species may be known in both sexes by its small size, bright green colour, yellow femora, the hind pair with black tips, and yellow-haired front coxa;. It is correctly recorded in Walker's lusecta Britaiiiiica as not rare ; but, as I had never seen a specimen when I published my list, I ouiitled it. I have since caught it in great ubundance iu some marshy meadows at ]3eaulicii, in tlio New Forest, and at Upware, besides a few specimens in other localities.
From the fourteen species left with chiefly black femora, Kowarz separates two which have the hind trochanters yellow; I find, how- ever, nearly all the species with the hiud trochanters more or less brown or yellowish, but the one which I recognize of his group, has the hind trochanters and base of femora conspicuously yellow, which is never the case with the others.
216 [Ap"i.
C. PULCHELLUS, KOW.
A small species similar to cilipes and gramineus, but easily dis- tiuguisted from cilipes by its black anterior femora, and from gram- ineus by the yellow base of the hind femora ; it closest a]ly,femoratus, is larger, and has a smaller third joint to the antennae ; I cannot, however, as yet express myself thoroughly satisfied with the specific distinctions. I caught a pair apparently belonging to it at Rannoch, in June, 1870. The remaining twelve species known to him, Kowarz does not attempt to divide into groups ; he first isolates
C. BLEPHAEOSCELES, KoW.
A large dull coloured species, with unusually bristly front tibiae, of which he only knows two male specimens. I am inclined, though with considerable doubt, to refer to this two pairs of an insect caught near Penzance, in July, 1871. He describes his species as dull green, the third joint of the antennae small, eyes nearly (in mine, I think, quite) touching, palpi small, brown, at the tip shining-yellowish, wings pale brownish, darker towards the costa (in mine almost blackish tinged), alulae reddish-yellow with blackish-brownish-yellow fringes (in mine whitish, with blackish edges and fringes), legs black, with the front tibiae and tarsi reddish-brown (in my males, all blackish), front tibiae, especially on the upper-side, more distinctly ciliated than usual, and besides the bristles near the base with a second strong bristle behind the middle, almost concealed by the ciliation, hind tibiae in- cluding the metatarsus with conspicuous ciliation (the ciliation on the hind legs is moderate in one of my males, slight in the other); abdo- men dark dull green, genitalia drawn in.
The abdomen in my specimens is strongly suggestive of the genus DiapJiorus, as it is longer than usual in Chrysotus, and of the usual dark blue-green hue common in Diaplwrus, and at its apex bears four or five short stubby bristles, easily overlooked, the genitalia also extend beneath for some distance in an irregularly concealed manner.
The females of my specimens are palish green, the frotis pale green, the face narrow, greenish-white, scarcely occupying one-sixth the width of the head, the palpi small, blackish at the tips, shimmering white, alulae as in male, white with blackish edges and fringes, the anterior tibiae and base of tarsi yellowish, with only the usual bristles, though the cilia on the front tibiae may be slightly more abundant and distinct than usual. The second female has the front tibiae a little darkened at the tip, and the middle pair at the base.
. Tlie chief points wliicl\ make me hanitate as to the identity of my
1876.) 247
specimens with Kowarz's species are the alulje, and his silence con- cerning the peculiar termination of the abdomen, and, therefore, for the present the name must remain doubtful.
C. CUPEEUS, Mcq.
This species is distinguished from the rest by its front coxae, ■which are whitish-yellow at the tip, and more or less so on the front. The British specimens are, I believe, always considerably smaller than the continental, but no other difference has been detected. I took the males once freely at Faygate, in Sussex, on May 25th, and have taken it in May and June at Denmark Hill, St. Mary Cray, and "Windsor Forest.
C. PALrsTEis, n. sp.
Obscure ceneus vel cupreus, antennarum niqrarum articulo tertio majusculo, tegulis'pallide ciliatis,femorihus niyris, coxis anticis albo- pilosis {JUong. vix. 1 /^«.).
^. Fronte aryenteo-micante, facie angustd, argented, palpis Jlavis, ciliis oculorum inferis confertis alhidis, pedibus nigris, genubus luteis.
$ . Obscure cupreus, palporum nigrorum opice pallescente, tibiis Jl'.ividis vel luteis.
(? . Dull green, thorax slightly shining, eyes separated by a narrow silvery face, palpi yellow, cilia of the lower orbit rather abundant and conspicuous, white, frons more than one-third the width of the head, bluish-green rendered silvery by tomen- tum ; antennae with the tliird joint rather large, ncilher rounded nor pointed. Thorax green in the middle, coppery on the sides, rendered dull by minute tomentum, hal- teres orange, alixlse bright yellow with pale yellow fringes.
Legs greenish-black, with yellowish knees, front coxa; with conspicuous white pubescence, tibiae very slightly bristly, usual bristle on middle pair and two or three bristles on hind pair ; in one specimen, probably immature, the anterior tibia; and base of tarsi are brownish. Wings rather dark, with more or less of a yellowish tinge.
? . Bather larger, more coppery, thorax very dull, face dull white, about a quarter the width of the head, palpi rather large, whitish at the tip ; front coxsb luteous at the extreme tip, and there with yellow hairs, on the disc with white hairs, femora slightly shining, tibia) brownish or yellowish. Wings clearer than in male.
This species is evidently allied to G. suavis, Lw., but is darker and duller coloured, sMrtt'es being blue or violet ; the face of suavis is green, and "mire angusta," shining white near the antenna?, while in pal ustr is it is all shining white, and not very narrow, in fact rather broad for this genus. Suavis has the legs and abdomen with a Avhitish pubes- cence, and yellow anterior tibia*, while I expect all mature palustris have only the knees luteous. The female of suavis is greener, the face and frons dirty grey. C. albibarbus, Lw., is also blue or green, with but little tomentum, and no sihery shimmer on tin; frons.
248 CA.pril.
On August 25th, 1875, I caught eleven specimens (three c? and eight ? ) of this species near Seaford, Sussex, in company with Thinophilus versutus and Thrypticus hellus, on a marshy spot. C. GEAMINEUS, Fall.
This is the commonest species of the genus in England, and may be known by its bright blue or green colour, rather small size, small third joint of the antennae, yellow anterior tibiae and black hind tibiae, pale fringed alulae, and silvery white face, which is very narrow in the male. I believe it is universally distributed. It is rather variable, but I have in vain attempted to split off any species from it, until last autumn, when I came to the conclusion that the specimens from Up- ware, in the fens, rej)resent some other species, probably —
C. MICEOCEEUS, KOW.
Distinguished from gramineus by its pale hind tibiae, brown fringed alulae, smaller third antennal joint, and in the female by the anterior femora being yellow for fully the last quarter. Kowarz says the antennae usually have the two basal joints reddish, but I am unable to distinguish this character, which would at once settle all doubt, as microcerus is the only Chri/sotus known which has not entirely black antennae ; perhaps more specimens will show that the antennae are sometimes pale. I brought back one male and five females from Upware last July.
C. LiEsus, Wied.
This is a well known species, being the only one with the eyes widely separated on the face in the male ; it is of a dark blue colour, the third joint of the antennae and the palpi large, the face broad, grey, and the legs in the male entirely black, which last two characters alone distinguish it from all the rest ; the front coxae are white haired, and the alulae brownish haired; the tibia' of the female are more or less pale. I have caught it sometimes in abundance near Lyndhurst, Eeigate, Woking, &c.
C. AMPLICOEXIS, Zett.
This is also a black-legged species, resembling Icesus, but the eyes are approximate in the male, the front coxae are black haired at the tip, the front tibiae bear distinct bristles, and the tibiae of the female are quite black, only just the knees being brownish-yellow. I have caught this in various parts of the New Forest.
(To be continued.J
1876.] 249
DESCRIPTIOX OF THEEE SEMIPTERA NEW TO THE BRITISH LIST. BY EDWAED SAUXDEBS, F.L.S.
Mtbmedobia tenella, Zett., Faun. Lapp., i, 475, 3.
^ brownist-blaek. Elytra paler, their cuneiis and lateral margins dark; thorax v{\i\\ a deeply impressed transverse line, its sides sinuate and dilated near the anterior angles, -n-here they are also slightly reflexed ; coriitm -nith its sides roughly rounded ; cuneus reddish- brown ; mcmhrane dusky, paler below the apex of the cuneus. Legs and antennco black, 2nd joint o£ the latter considerably longer than the 3rd.
? brown ; the head, legs, and base of the antennae more or less red. Thorax transverse, the anterior margin and sides nearly straight, base sinuate, disc with a deep transverse impression. Elytra rudi- mentary, very slightly longer than the scutellum, body round, moderately convex.
Length, ^ , 1 line ; ? , I line.
Hab. Mickleham, Hampstead, TVicken Fen, Esher {Dr. Poiver). I have also taken it myself near "Wandsworth.
Closely allied to 31. coJeoptruta, from which the $ may be dis- tinguished by the shorter thii'd joint of the antenna?, and the sinuate sides of the thorax, which are dilated and reflexed in front ; the $ by the rudimentary elytra, which only extend to a little beyond the Bcutellum, instead of entirely covering the body as in coleoptrata.
ACOMPOCOEIS, Eeuter {Temnostethus,pars.,T). d^i^idi^.). AcoMPOCOEis ALPiNUs, Eout., Gcu. Cimic. Eur., p. 63.
Head and thorax black, with a scattered golden pubescence. Thorax with the sides nearly straight, base widely sinuate ; disc wrinkled and punctured posteriorly, with a slightly curved impression just behind the middle, between it and the less punctured anterior portion. Scutellutn black, finely punctured, apex impressed. Elytra dark pitchy-brown, finely gold-pulK'scent. Mcmhrane dusky, nerves and their margins paler. Anfmnce black, 2nd joint pitchy-brown in the middle, and slightly clavate towards the apex, 3rd and 4th joints sub-equal.
Length, 1^ line. Hab. near Norwich, T. P. Dossetor.
I have another British specimen without locality.
The more elongate form, darker colour, proportionately longer apical joint to the antennje, the dark membrane with pale veins, &c..
250 [April,
easily distinguish this from pygmaus (lucorum, D. and S.). In general appearance it looks more like a narrow Tetraplileps, but the long antennae and generic characters at once separate it from that genus. I believe I am right in referring this to Renter's species.
Nabis Poweei, sp. n.
Elongate, sides of the body sub-parallel, pale ochreous. Sead with a dull pale brown stripe on each side and in the centre, and with a brown Y-shaped mark at the base. Thorax elongate, sides nearly straight, with a central line and various small markings on the disc, brown ; scutellum with a central line, brown ; elytra very short, truncate, very slightly rounded at the corners. Body finely pubescent, very elongate in both sexes, ochreous, becoming reddish towards the margin, sides not foliaceous, with a black central line, and a brown line outside this on each side, but not quite touching it ; legs ochreous, spotted with brown.
Length, 6 lines.
Hab. Chobham, Surrey. Taken by sweeping in a marsh.
Allied to -ZV. limhatiis, but rather larger, and at once distinguish- able by the sides of the body not being foliaceous, and in the ? being sub-parallel as in the ^ ; whereas in Umbatus the body of the ? is much widened, and with the sides rounded. The eyes are also less prominent and further apart ; the rudimentary elytra are much less rounded at the apex, and the body is differently coloured. The hamus of the male genitalia is larger and differently shaped.
It is also allied to N. lineatus, Dahlb., a species unknown to me ; but, according to Renter's description, the present species appears to to be distinct, especially in the narrow body of the $ .
2, Spencer Park, Wandsworth : 10th February, 1876.
DESCEIPTIONS OF FOUR NEW SOUTH AMERICAN EESPERID^. bt w. c. hewitsox, t.l.s.
Erycides Gaudialis. Upper-side .-'blue-black. The whole of the body rufous. Anterior wing with the base orange : crossed by three bands of transparent white spots : the first at the middle trifid, the second of two separate spots, the third near the apex continuous of five minute spots : a small white spot near the inner margin, and a sub-marginal series of four
187(5.1 251
pule blue Bpots. Posterioi' wing with the basal half covered with orange hair: the fringe broadly white, divided by the nervures, which are black.
Under-side : as above, except that it is altogether blact, tinted with blue on the posterior wing. Posterior wiug with thi'ee or four pale blue spots near the outer margin.
Exp. Ito inch. Hab. Chiriqui (Eibbe).
In the collection of Dr. Staudinger. A beautiful species, most nearly allied to JE. Coritas.
Ebtcides tenebeicosa.
Upper-side : dark brown ; the fringe white. The whole of the body, except the anus which is scarlet, black. Anterior wiug slightly tinted with blue, the base of the costal margin rufous.
Under-side : olive-green, the nervures black : the base of the anterior-wing and the inner margin of the posterior wing dark brown.
Exp. 2 inches. Ilab. Peru (Chanchamayo, Thamm.),
In the collection of Dr. Staudinger. On the under-side of the wings, this species scarcely differs from some examples of Fyrrhopyga Thasus.
Ertcides Teutas.
Upper-side : black. The body black, except the neck, which ia scarlet. Anterior wing tinted with green, marked near the costal margin before the middle by a trifid, triangular, transparent, white spot. Posterior wiug with the friuge white.
Under-side : as above, except that the transparent spot of the anterior wing forms part of a band which is continued to the anal angle, and tliat the posterior wing is green.
Exp. li'o inch. Ilab. Amazons (St. Paulo).
In my own collection, from Mr. Bates. Does not differ in general appearance from Pyrrhopyga Arinas and P. Hadora.
PrnniroPTOA Agexoria. Both sides dark red-brown : the fringe white, the whole of the body, with the exception of the neck which is carmine, dark brown. Posterior wing with the anal angle, which projects, carmine.
Exp. Its inch. Ilab. Peru (Chanchamayo, Thamm.). In' the collection of Dr. Staudinger. Nearest to P. Passova and P. Oorti/na.
Oatlandfi, Woybridgo : March, 1876.
252 - t^P"'-
Further notes on collecting in St. Helena. — I take the opportunity of a temporary calm on tlie line (when otherwise than a horizontal posture is practicable) to send a few notes — just to say that we have at last left St. Helena, and are now steaming up, at thirteen knots an hour, to Madeira.
We have had six mouths in the land of Cossonidce (at least thrco longer than we originally intended), resulting, of course, in a perfect raid amongst its vert/ limited, but, nevertheless, most peculiar and intei-esting fauna. I say " very limited " because all my efforts with net, hands, and sifter, have, I suspect, scarcely brought up my Coleopterous list to much above 200 species, and that too in spite of at least 10,000 specimens mounted, and already examined with some amount of care. The fact is, that, in that remote and weather-beaten little spot, whole families and departments, wliieh are more or less represented almost everywhere, are entirely wanting ; and you may use the sweeping-net over miles of grassy mountain-slopes (covered with a yellow kind of dandelion, much as one sees in North Wales) without finding a single flower-infestcr, or anything approaching to it. Your net, on examination, is simply empty. There seem to be no Hydradephaga, although there are plenty of small streams ; no indigenous Longicorns (merely two imported species) ; no indigenous Hecrophaga (as usually understood by that term) ; and very few Heteromera and Brachelytra. As I always anticipated (years ago) , and over and over again stated would be the case, the Rhynchophora monopolize the lion's share of the fauna, some half-a-dozen types being developed to so marvellous an extent as occasionally to exhibit forms that are well-nigh ludicrous. Nearly all these types circle round Microxylobius and Stenoscelis of the Cossonidce, and Notioxenus of the Anthribidce ; and I strongly suspect that future calcxilations vrill bring to light the wonderful fact that about a quarter of the entire Coleopterous fauna of the island are Cossonidce ! This is pretty well, considering that in Great Britain, out of a fauna of, I suppose, more than 3000, the CossonidcB number only eight or nine species, and one or two of even those may perhaps have been introduced. In St. Helena all of them (except possibly one) arc, par excellence, aboriginal ; so that I, who curiously enough happened to have made the CossonidcB my particular friends, have certainly tumbled on my legs in this little oceanic preserve of the southern Atlantic. The worst of it is, in spite of all our exertions and constant work, I have absolutely not met with the Microxi/lobius type, — the insignificant 3f. Westiooodi, which has been unique and classical for now nearly fifty years in an English cabinet, having altogether escaped us ! Still, having myself examined it formerly with great care, I see enoiigh of its affinities to be almost sure of its habitat ; and I have left directions with a young and rising entomologist in the island, which I hope will result in his turning it out at no distant time, and when the season for the " scrub-wood" (which is the localnamefor oneof the most distinct of the indigenous arborescent Compositce) again comes round.
The Carabidoi are represented by two species of Calosoma, the widely-spread JPristont/chus complanatus, the great Haplothorax Burchelli (of which we were too late in the year to see more than the dead remains), and about eleven most remarkable and extremely indigenous Bembidia. The latter chiefly reside within the damp and rotteu stems (at the highest elevations) of the tree-ferns !
The minute Anthribids, comprised (unless others should have to be established) in my genera Notioxenus and llomoeodera, are almost as distinct, inter se, and curious, as the members of the Cossonidce. *
1ST6.] 253
The material -will give mo plenty of work on our return, which I hope will bo not later than early in June.
Mrs. Wollaston has not added greatly to her Lepidoptera during the last two months, for the island is both poor and rather commonplace in that order, and the heat was becoming too much for her before wo left.
Madeira is comparatively so well known that I do not think I shall distress myself with work during our short sojourn there. Still, I have always points to be cleared up, and a few others (especial ones) to be attended to.
We have had no entomological news since we left home (in August last), the Magazine not having been forwarded from Teignraouth. Should bo glad to have a sweep again in an English meadow. — T. V. Wollaston, On board the S. S. "American" (Lat. 0) : February 2Gth, 1876.
The Douhleday Collection. — The valuable collection of butterflies and moths belonging to, and collected by, the late Mr. Henry Doubleday, of Epping, has been now, by the wish of many collectors, and with consent of the Trustees, placed in the Bethnal Green Museum, to bo called " The Doubleday Collection."
Sahit of the larva of Jlemerosia Rheediella. — About fifteen months ago, I re- ceived a rather startling piece of intelligence from Ilerr Miihlig, of Frankfort-on- the-Main, in reference to the larva of AntispUa Ffeifferella, which he assured me, from repeated observations, had been found (at any rate in the Frankfort district) to feed, not like the larva3 of A. TreitschkieUa, mining the leaves, but spinning up in the Jlowers of the dog-wood, Cornus sangidnea, and, when full-fed, boring into soft or rotten wood or bark, and remaining there unchanged from June to April.
To this, I replied that his news was very interesting, though scarcely credible, yet I knew he was a good observer, &c., &c.
Ten days ago I heard again from him, tliat after rearing, apparently, for four years in succession, AntispUa Ifeifferella from tlie larva in the dog-wood flowers, he had at last been successful in rearing Jlemerosia Rheediella. His plan had always been to leave the dog- wood blossoms and some soft wood for the hibernating larvse in a flower pot exposed to the weather aU the winter, and, to prevent tilings getting too dry, lie had put a lot of dog-wood leaves in the flower-pot, hence the AntispUa Pfeifferella had been unwittingly carried in to spoil the experiment, and the Uemerosia Rheediella had probably perished, causing the images of Ifeifferella to appear as the results of the larvas in the Cornus blossoms. In tlie winter of 1871-5 he tried again, and this time without dog-wood leai^es, and no Pfelfferella made their appearance.
Cornus sanguinea is, I believe, at any rate, a new food-plant for the larva of Jlemerosia Rheediella. Probably, if it likes flowers of dog-wood, it may also like flowers of hawthorn, apple, &c. Herr Miihlig's note of its habits agrees with "Wilkinson's remark (British Torlriccs, p. 157) : "wo are credibly infornu-d that it " burrows into the bark to undergo its final change." — H. T. Stainton, Mountsfield, Lewisham, S.E. : February 29th, 1 87G.
254 April,
Captures of Noctuidce near Orillia, in the province of Ontario, Canada West. — During the season of 1875, I collected Noctuce near Orillia, in the province of Ontario. The locality where I resided was the Couchiching Ilotel, a place of great beauty, situated on a wooded isthmus, dividing Lake Couchiching from Lake Simcoe. From the varied nature of the ground, enormous forest tracts, swamps, &c., I fully expected the locality would have been more productive in insects than my last year's place of sojourn, St. Catharine's, which was supplied with very little timber. In this I was much disappointed, possibly owing to the bad season, more than the locality : the season was an uncommonly cold one. This, combined with the high and cold winds which prevailed at night during the whole summer, was much against sugaring, and certainly rendered it one of the veiy worst collecting seasons I ever experienced.
I may here mention that Mr. F. Grant, who has resided at Orillia some years, has found Agrotis fennica not unfrequent on a species of SptVcea, visiting the flowers. He has also taken Plusia striatella, D. Comstocki, Agrotis gilvipennis, Adit. Chimon- anthi, and other rare Noctuce. In spite of the above-mentioned drawbacks, it will be seen the locality has not failed to yield several species new to science. These have been determined and described by Mr. Grote, of Buffalo, to whom my best thanks are due. The following species must be added to my list of St. Catharine captures : Agrotis campestris, n. sp., Acronycta vinnula, Hadena hadestriga, P. angu- lata, Noctua plecta, Phlogophora v-hrunneum, Agrotis gladiaria.
Raphia frater, 4th July, rare at light.
Diphthera Comstocki (Mr. Grant) ; fallax, 2nd July, not uncommon at sugar.
Acronycta occidentalis, 7th June, common at rest and sugar ; mnrida, 7th July, not uncommon at sugar; hasta, 30th June, rare at sugar; innotata, 11th Jidy, com- mon at sugar; hastulifera, 15th July, rare at sugar; noctivaga, 15th June, common at sugar ; supe^-ans, 11th July, at sugar, not uncommon.
Noctua sigmoides, 2l8fc June, bred from larvse, afterwards frequent at sugar ; haruspica, 15th July, very common at sugar ; phyllopliora, 22nd July, rare at sugar ; haja, 29th Jidy, very common at sugar ; C-nigrum, 24th June, bred from larvse, frequent at sugar ; hicarnea, 17th June, bred from larva;, abundant at sugar ; badi- collis, 4th August, not rare at rest; ruhifera, n. sp., 24th July, very common at sugar ; conflua, 10th August, rare at sugar ; Normaniana, 11th August, common at sugar — much darker than St. Catharine specimens ; plecta, 16th July, not common at sugar ; clandestina, 27th June, bred from larvse, common at sugar ; alternata, 8th August, very common at sugar ; cupida, 25th August, very common at sugar.
Agrotis tessclata, 11th July, very common at sugar and light ; messoria {Cochrani), 2nd August, swarming at sugar and light ; herilis, 11th August, not unfrequent at light and sugar; tricosa, 18th August, rare at sugar and light ; g^daris, n. sp., 12th August, not uncommon at flowers and light ; ctiicreo-macida, n. sp., 19th July, not unfrequent over flowers ; turris, n. sp., 20th August, not unfrequent at sugar and light ; friahilis, n. sp., 4th August, rare at sugar ; versipellis, n. sp., 20th June, not uncommon at light ; campestris, n. sp., 5th August, not uncommon at light and sugar ; sa^icia, 7th July, exceedingly common at sugar ; suffusa, 12th August, ex- ceedingly abundant at sugar ; venerahilis, 9th September, rare at light.
Pachnohia orilliana, n. sp., 13th May, not ilnfrequent at palms.
is'6.] 255
Matuta Catharina, 10th May, not uncoTnmon nt palms and light.
Aplecta pressa, 5th July, common at rest and sugar; occulta, 16th August, not rare at sugar ; herhida, 8th July, very common at sugar : nimhosa, 14th July, not imcommon at sugar ; imhnfera, bred from larrse, afterwards at sugar.
Mamestra vicina, 4th Aug., rare at rest ; atlantica = H, suasa?, 21st June, rare at light ; alhifusa, 7tli June, very uncommon at rest ; claviplena, 2nd June, common at sugar; olivacea, 6th August, common at rest and sugar ; arctica, 9th July, very abundant at light, rest, and sugar ; devastatrix, Ist July, the most common moth at sugar, light, and rest.
XijlopJiasia apamiformis, 7th August, rare at light ; sputatrix, 12th July, ex- ceedingly common at sugar ; dubitans, 19th July, rare at sugar.
Hadena sectilis, 28th June, not uncommon at sugar ; mactata, 19th August, very abundant at sugar ; modica, 14th August, not uncommon at sugar; fmctilinea, 24th August, not uncommon at sugar.
Celcena chalcedonia, 14th June, not uncommon at sugar ; renigera, July, very common at rest and Ught.
Dipterygia pinactri, July, not unfrequent at rest and sugar.
Hyppax aylinoides, 12th June, very common at sugar and rest.
Cloantha ramosula, August, one specimen at light.
Callopistria mollissima, 12th August, i-are, one specimen at sugar.
Phlogophora ms, 2lst June, rare at light; pericidosa, 2"^ st July, not rare at sugar ; v-hrunneutn, n. sp., 24th July, not rare at sugar : anodonta, 2l8t July, not uncommon at sugar.
Euplexia lucipara, 9th June, frequent at light and sugar.
Nephelodes violans, 31st August, very frequent at light, rest, and sugar.
Apa.mea reniformis, 12th August, veiy abundant at sugar ; atra, n. sp. ?, with the last, but not so common.
Hydroecia nictitans, 17th July, very common at sugar ; sera, 15th July, common at sugar.
Arzajna ohliquata, 14th July, rare at light.
Leucania pallens, 16th July, rare at sugar ; unipuncta, 21 st June, very abundant at flowore and sugar; pseudargyria, 15th July, rare at sugar.
Laphygma frugiperda, Gth September, rare at sugar.
Caradrina miranda, 9th August, rare at sugar ; niultifera, 8th August, very abundant at light, rest, and sugar.
Amphipyra pyramidoides, 7th August, very abundant at sugar ; tragopogonis, 8th August, common at sugar and rest.
Parasticlitis gentilis, 25th July, rare at sugar ; pcrhcllis, 18th July, rare at sugar ; minuscula, 9th September, rare at light.
Crocigrapha Normani, 17th May, not uncommon at palms.
TcBniocampa alia, 20th May, very rare at palms ; oviduca, 9th June, very raro at light.
Orthodes infirma, 10th July, common at sugar; cynica, 18th July, common at sugar.
Cirrhoedia pampina, 24tli August, abundant at sugar.
25G CAprii,
Orthosia infumata, 12th September, rare at sugar.
Xanthia ferrtiginoides, 29th August, very common at sugar; silago, not un- common at rest and sugar.
Scoliopteryx Ubatrix, very common at sugar all the season.
Litholomia napisa, n. g. et sp., 11th May, rare at palms.
Xylina petulca, 10th September, very abundant at sugar; ferreaUs,2i\d Septem- ber, common at sugar ; Bethunei, 3rd September, swarming at sugar ; ■semhieta, 18th May, at palms — September 9th, common at sugar ; Georgii, n. sp., 5th September, not uncommon at sugar ; disposita, May, rare at palms — abundant at sugar in Sep- tember ; cinerea, May, rare at palms — ^loth September, occasionally at sugar ; lati- cinerca, 15th September, rare at sugar ; oriunda, 8th September, rare at sugar.
Anytus sculptus, 31st August, rare at sugar; capax, September 14th, i-are at sugar.
Calocampa nupera, May, at sallows — -llth September, common at sugar ; cur- vimacula, May, at sallows — 14th September, very common at sugar ; germana, 5th September, very common at sugar.
Phcsia (Breoides, 7th August, not common at rest ; purpiirigera, Ist August, at thistle flowers ; himaculata, 28th August, rare at rest ; striaiella (Mr. Q-rant) ; sim- plex, 8th June, rare over flowers ; u-aureum., 9th September, rare at light.
Heliothis exprimens, 2nd August, rare over flowers.
Galgula hepara, 9th September, rare at light.
Erastria carneola, 12th June, common at rest and sugar; nigritula, 9th. July, not unfrequent at sugar.
Drasteria erichto, 2nd May, not common.
Parallelia bistriaria, 3rd July, not unfrequent at sugar.
Catocala relicia, 10th September, saw several at sugar ; unijuga, 14th August, not common at sugar; Briseis, 31st July, common at sugar and rest; parta, 29th August, rare at sugar ; ultronia, 27th August, common at sugar and rest ; concumhcns, llth August, not common at sugar; ilia, 13th August, rare at sugar ; antinympha (Mr. Grant) ; cerogama, llth August, very common at sugar; praeclara, 22nd August, not unfrequent at sugar; fratercula, 18th August, rare at sugar; gracilis, llth August, rare at sugar.
Homoptera cahjcanthata, 28tli May, common at sugar.
Pseudaglossa luhricalis, one of the most abundant moths at sugar throughout the season.
Epizeuxis americalis, exceedingly common at sugar.
Xanclognatha Icevigata, July, rare ; ochreipennis, July, not unfrequent at sxigar.
Renia plenilinealis, 2'ith August, not unfrequent at sugar.
Bleptina caradrinalis, July, not common at sugar.
Bomolocha perangulalis, July, very abundant at sugar; haltimoralis, very frequent at sugar; albiciiialis, 20th July, common at rest and sugar; bijiigalis, June, not un- frequent at sugar.
Hypena subrufalis, August, not unfrequent at sugar and rest; evanidalis, 13th August, not common at sugar.
Platyhypena scabra, common at sugar.
Brephos infans (Mr. Grant), May, at birch trees. — Geo. Nohman, Cluny Hill, Forres, N. B. •
1876.1 257
Xoles on Acentropus. — At a meeting of the Nctherlaud Entomological Society, held at Leyden on the 18th December laat, Mr. Ritsema made the following obser- vations on two points in the life-history of Acentropus niveus, Olir., namely, the mode of pairing in the species in question, and the connection existing betwon the two forms of female (the rudimentary and tho normally winged) and the different broods.
As regards the pairing, the female, according to an obserTation of Reutti, sub- merges herself during the act of pairing, and even draws the male under water with her. Although 'Sir. Ritsema had not actually witnessed the act, he considered himself justified in coming to the conclusion that this takes place not in, but on, tho water. On the 1st June last, in the evening, he found two pairs of A. niveus had developed in his aquarium, the females with rudimentary wings. Tho aquarium was situated in the garden, and the wind that evening was so high that he found it impossible to keep the lantem, which he used on the occasion, alight for more than a few moments, 80 that ho was afraid he should not be able to witness the copulation even should it take place, and, in fact, he only had time to observe the males hovering about the females which were floating on the surface of tho water ; in consequence of the storm increasing, Mr. Ritsema did not visit the aquarium again that night. On the following morning tho males were, as usual, just above the surface of the water on the stems of some plants, the females being below the surface, on the leaves of Potamogeton, in close proximity to a number of eggs, which subsequently turned out to be impregnated eggs of Acentropus. Mr. Ritsema supposes from this, that the act of pairing takes place on the surface of the water, and that the female then dives down to lay her eggs on the leaves of the food-plant. Probably tho pair observed by Reutti was, somehow or another, disturbed, and the female considered it advisable to dive down before the action of the male was completed.
In order to appreciate the connection which probably exists between the two forms of female and the different broods, it is necessary to pass in review a complete cycle of the development of the insect. A female with rudimentary wings appears at the end of May, and consequently belongs to a brood which may properly be called a spring brood. Tliis female, after having paired, deposits her eggs ; and, from a part of the larva) produced from these eggs, imagos are developed during the same summer: these form the second or autumn brood, the females of wiiieh, according to tho example raised by Mr. Ritsema, appear to be furnished with only the rudiments of wings ; the remaining larvae hibernate. Tho imagos of the second or autumn brood pair, the females lay their eggs, and from these larva; are produced before tho winter, wliich lurvx-, consequently, liibernate at a very early stage of their existence, together with a part of the larva) derived from tho spring brood. An immediate consequence of the dissimilar age of the hibernating larvte is that in the following year the descendants of the spring brood will develop into tho imago state sooner (thus again forming the spring brood with rudimeutarily-winged females) than the descendants of the autumn brood ; and Mr. Ritsema supposes that from tho laat mentioned larvio a generation appears about the middle of the summer, the females of which possess normally developed wings, so that he comes to tliia conclusion, namely, that the normally-winged females of Acentropus must belong to that gener- ation (it might be called the summer brood) which is produced from the autumn
258 tAl'ril,
broocl. Probably all tho lai'va3 descended from the norraallj-winged females hibernate, and the imagos produeed by these in the following year form a part of the spring brood. — (Translated by J. W. Mat from the " Verslag " of the Dutch Entomological Society, Meeting of 18lh December, 187o).
Does Folia Jlavocincta ever hibernale in the imago stale ? — I suppose it is gene- rally understood that all the three Bi'itish species of Polia spend the winter in the egg state ; and doubtless, in most cases, if not in all, it'is so. How then is the fol- lowing circumstance to be accounted for? Last winter I planted (to be in readiness for larva3 when required) a quantity of dock roots, in the corner of a yard at the back of my house. It is scarcely likely that any Jlavocincta wei'e about the yard previously ; and it is quite as doubtful if the species would occur on the spot from whence the dock roots were brought ; yet in the early summer, when the I'oots had produced tall plants, I was surprised to find the leaves being eaten away by fine healthy larvse of flavocincta ! If the imago were known to hibernate, of course the reason would appear to bo explained at once ; but if it never does, how did the larvse get on these plants? I may aUdi, flavocincta was very abundant in the larval state throughout this district last summer, even on the docks on the roadside just outside the town ; they did considerable damage in gardens also. — Q-EO. T. Poebitt, Hud- dersfield : Fehnian/ Uh, 1876.
Entomological Society of London: 1st MarchjlSlG. — Professor West wood, President, in the Chair.
Dr. Gr. Kraatz, President of the Entomological Society of Berlin, and Mr. Clemens Miillcr, of Berlin, were elected Foreign Members ; and Mr. O. E. Janson, hitherto a Subscriber, was elected an Ordinary Member.
Mr. Jenner Weir exhibited two grasshoppers in an apterous state, taken by himself in the Ehone Valley, in copulA, a peculiarity which has been frequently noticed among the Hemiptera. He also exhibited a remarkable moth from Mada- gascar, belonging to the family UraniidcB, bearing a very striking resemblance to a Pajnlio, except that it had the antcnnre of a moth and the hind wings were destitute of tails.
Mr. E. Y. Western exhibited some Coleoptera taken chiefly in Switzerland.
Mr. W. Arnold Lewis exhibited a specimen of Argynnis Dia taken in England by Mr. Wallace A. Smith, whom he introduced to the Meeting. Mr. Smith stated, in answer to several enquiries by the President, that he captured the specimen liimself in the year 1872, while sunning itself on some palings near his own house at Worcester Park, Surrey ; and it was on an exceedingly hot day, though he did not remember the month. He had only commenced collecting insects in the preceding summer, and it was the first fritillary he had ever had in his possession, and the specimen had never been out of his possession since. He was unable to identify the species at the time, and was not awa^-e of the rarity of the insect until he shewed it to Mr. Lewis. The specimen was handed to the Members and pronounced to be undoubtedly an .4r_9'?^Hnts Dia. Mr. Lewis remarked that he had seen so many attacks in past publications on those who asserted that Dia was a British species, that he was desirous that the testimony connected with the present capture should be recorded.
259
Tlio President noticed a paragraph in Newman's Entomologist stating that the collection of Butterflies and Moths formed by the late Mr. Henry Doubleday was now being exhibited at tlu Bethual Grocn Museum ; and he hoped that special care would bo taken of it.
ifr. Dunning exhibited a pair of Caradrina morpheus taken in copiihX in the Regent's Park, the male being dead; and although still attached to the female, several eggs were laid, and larvae hatched therefrom, in the box in which they were placed.
Mr. Bates read a letter from Mr. Trovey Blackmore to Mr. McLachlan (who was absent), stating that he was nnicli interested in observing a notice in the Pro- ceedings of this Society respecting the habits of Cychrus cylindricoUis, reported by M. Baudi to feed on snails. He had called attention (in the Ent. M. Mag., li, 214) to the fact that Carabus stenocephalus, Fairm., fed on snails, which, in Morocco, were 60 very abundant as to form a marked feature in the landscape by covering the bushes so thick Ij- as to resemble, at a distance, clusters of blossom. He had captured in all eighteen specimens of this scarce Caralus, and of these fifteen were obtained citlicr feeding on snails or climbing up bushes of Retama, which were covered with snails, especially with i7e//x^ZaHa^a. The Ca?*aJM.s having an unusually long head, and the protliorax being narrowed anteriorly, enabled it to thrust its head and prothorax a considerable distance within the shell in search of its food. It belongs to a group comprising several species found in North Africa, which much resembles Ci/cliriis in appearance, and which possessed characters sufficiently marked to entitle them to form, if not a genus distinct from Carabim, at least a sub-genus of Carabus. One of them (possibly a var. of C stenocephalus) occurred in the more northern parts of the Atlantic coast of Morocco, and had been named, by Fairmaire, C. cychroccphaJiis ; and another species (C. Aumonti, Lucas) had been found at Oran, and in the Angcra Mountains, near Ceuta, which had a far narrower prothorax ; but, as he had not met with it himself, he was unacquainted with its habits. He believed that other Carahi might be found whose habits were similar to those of C. stenocephalus. Mr. Bates added that this was a remarkable instance of modification of a form in order to adapt it to a different habit. It could not be a case of affinity, for Carabus and Cychrus were totally distinct genera. The President considered that the form was siuijily adapted to the purpose for which the insects were created.
The President drew attention to a subject Jiow being much discussed in Germany and the United States of America, with reference to the spring and autumn broods of Li'pidoptera, which proved to be modifications of the same species. He was much interested in the subject, and would be greatly obliged to any Entomologist who would furnish him with observations and notes as to the different broods.
The President read a paper entitled "A Dipterological Note from Pompeii," containing remarks on the habits of the genus Jiombylius ; also descriptions of some new sjiecies of TipulidcB in the British MiisiMnii, accompanied by drawings shewing them to be furnished with hind legs of unusual length.
Mr. John Scott contributed a monograpli of the British species belonging to the Ilemiptera-Homop/era (family I'si/l/ida-), together with a description of a !;enu8 which might be expected to occur in Britain.
2G0 • <Ap"i.
MONOGRAPH UPON THE BRITISH SPECIES OF SARCOPHAGJ, OR
FLESH-FLY.
BY n. H. MEADE.
{Continued from page 220).
2. Albiceps, Meig. ? Macq. ?
G-rey, marked and tessellated with blue-black. Face pure white. Middle tibiae shortly aud evenly ciliated. Both anal segments o£ ^ black. Three dorsal thoracic bristles behind the suture.
Length 4 — 5 lines.
This species differs from S. carnaria, in being usually smaller, and of a more oval form ; the colour is bluer ; the face silvery- white, and less prominent ; the stripes upon the thorax are wider, and less distinct ; the thoracic bristles differ in number, there being onl^' three behind the suture, and two in front of it ; all of which are much longer and stronger, and of more even size, than those in S. carnaria, see Fig. 2.* The costal spine is usually more distinct ; the beard upon the posterior tibia) less thick ; and the middle tibia; are only clothed with short hairs, of an even length, along the whole surface. The 9 is very similar to the 6 , with the exception of the usual sexual differences.
This species is not common : I have one (^ in my own collection, and there are one ^ and one ? in that of Mr. Ycrrall, one of which was captured at Lewes, Sussex, and the other at Lyndhurst, Hants. f
I have called this species aJhicp]->s, as in colour and general charac- ters it resembles the one so named by Meigcn ; but the description of his species is so imperfect, that it is impossible to identify it with certainty.
3. Atropos, Meig., Macq., Zett., Schin.
Grey, striped and tessellated with black. Three posterior dorsal
thoracic bristles. First anal segment in ^J gi'cy, often marked with
lines or spots. Length, 3 — 4 lines.
This well-marked species closely resembles the smaller specimens of <S. carnaria, both in general form, colour, and markings ; but it differs from them essentiallj', in having only three bristles in the posterior part of the dorsal thoracic row, and two in the anterior part, which in size and arrangement resemble those of S. albiceps. It also differs fiom both the preceding species by the colour of the first anal segment of the <J, which, instead of being shining black, is pale grey, marked bj' a transverse and sometimes a vertical dark line, and in some specimens with two lateral small dots. This design upon the anal joint is frequently partial or indistinct, and often altogether wanting ; the segment being of a plain grey colour. The legs are armed and ciliated as in small varieties of S. cai-naria, there being a short beard upon the middle tibise of <J . The 5 is not known.
• Though this figure la intended to represent S. melanura, the thoracic part will equally apply to both.-R. H. M.
+- 1 beg to express my thanks to Mr. Verrall for his Wnduess in placing his large aud valuable collection of Sacrogho.giida: at my service, — R. H. M.
1876.) 261
Thi3 species is not common, but seems to be generally distributed in England and Scotland.
4. SiMiLis, n. s.
Colour and markings as in S. carnctria. Thorax ^vith four pos- terior dorsal bristles. Second abdominal segment destitute of central spiues upon the edge. Length, 4 — 7^ lines.
This species only differs from S. carnaria in one essential point, viz., by the central portion of the edge of the second abdominal segment being unarmed with spines. The bristles in the dorsal thoracic rows are similar in number, size, and arrangement to those in species 1. The specimens vary in size greatlj', as in that species; and the legs are ciliated in the same manner, many of the large specimens having quite a long beard upon the middle tiliie of the <J, when they correspond to the S. matertera of Rondani. The ? resembles /"'^ the <J, except in the hairiness of the legs, and in the width of the frontal space.
Generally distributed, but much less common than S. carnaria.
5. MELA^-^EA, Meig., Maeq., Zett., Walk., Eond.
Yellowish - grey, striped and tessellated Avith brownish -black. Frontal space wide. Thorax with three posterior dorsal bristles. Se- cond abdominal segment without central spines. First anal segment in ^ black, and extruded. Costal spine of wings distinct.
Length 4 — 5 lines.
Head: forehead rather less prominent than in S. carnaria. Frontal space equal in width in <J to one-third of the head, and equal to nearly half in ?.
Thorax : three posterior and two anterior dorsal bristles, as in S. alhiceps.
Abdomen without central spines upon the edge of the second segment, iioth the anal segments in S shining black, the first ex- truded. Winjs mostly with a distinct costal spine. Legs with middle tibiae of i shortly ciliated. In general colour and design similar to S. carnaria, but the black is usually of a more rusty tint, and the white and grey spots on abdomen are some- times of an olive tint.
The ? rt'scnjbles the <J .
This well-marked species is generally distributed.
G. AanicOLA, Meig.?, Macq.?, Zett, Eond.
Yellowish-grey, striped, and tessellated in black, in tlic ordinary manner. Buccal setae a little enlarged. First anal segment of ^ grey and mostly retracted. Posterior tibia; of J thinly bearded.
Length, 3 — 4 lines. This species resembles S. melanura in the numb.-r of thoracic dorsal bristles, mid by tlio absence of central spines upon the second abdominal segment ; but it diflTer,! in having the frontal space narrower (it not occupying more than one-fourth of the width of the head iu
2G2 [April.
the <J ), it is also usually Rmaller, and move slender in shape, has the first anal segment of the (J retracted and grej' in colour, and the posterior tibia? of the <J less thickly bearded. The buccal setse in S. Agricola ai-e usually considerably larger than in S. carnaria and all the preceding species. There is a great likeness between this species and S. Atropos, but it may at once be distinguished from the latter by the absence of the two central spines upon the edge of the second abdominal segment.
Not uncommon.
7. Laticoexis, Meig., Eond.
Bluisli-grey, marked with black stripes and spots. Third joint of antenna; rather broad. Arista bare. Yibrissse numerous and hirge. Two central spines on the second abdominal segment.
Length, 4 lines.
Send : forehead prominent. Face white, wi^'h blue reflections. Frontal space occupying about one-fourth of the width of the head in the S . Edges of the facial groove setigerous. Third joint of antenuiE wide. Arista thickened at the base, and almost bare. Peristome with numerous and large vibrissa;.
Tliorax rather indistinctlj' striped. Dorsal bristles large, tliroe placed behind the suture.
Ahdomen with two strong central spines upon the edge of the second segment, and with the third as well as the fourth segment fringed with numerous strong spines. The dorsum is marked by an interrupted black stripe down the centre, and the posterior margin of each segment is marked upon each side by a semi-circular black spot. The ordinary tesellations or reflections are less distinct than in most of the preceding species. Wings tinged with brown. Legs furnished with strong spines, but with no beard upon the tibia; of the <J .
? very similar to the <J , but with a wider frontal space.
This is a well-marked but aberrant species, bearing a strong re- semblance to some of the Tachinidce, the arista being thickened and without hairs, and the facial groove setigerous. Not rare.
8. NiaRiYENTEis, Meig., Rond.
Grey, striped and tessellated in the ordinary manner. Frontal space wide. Buccal setae large, style thickened, and with short hairs. Ventral surface of abdomen mostly black. Length, 2 — 3 lines.
Head: frontal space occupying about one-third of the width of the head in <J. Buccal setae large. Third joint of antenna; rather large, but of the ordinary form. Arista thickened at the base, and furnished with short hairs.
Thorax with three posterior dorsal bristles.
Abdomen with two central spines upon the edge of the second segment. Ventral surface sometimes black, but ofteu grey. 7ri«^s with a distinct costal spine. Legs without beard upon the posterior tibia; of the 6 .
9 similar to the <J, but usually larger in size. Frontal space wider.
This species resembles 8. agricola in having the bristles upon the cheeks enlarged ; but it differs in being smaller, and in having the posterior tibiae of the ^ bare. Not common.
iS7r..] 263
9. JuvExis, Eond.
Grey, striped and tessellated in tlio ordinary manner. Style with, long liairs. Costal spine large. Posterior tIbi;o o£ ^ ciliated, with a few long hairs on their inner sides. Length, 3 lines.
Head : frontal space in breadth about one-fourth of the width of the head. Buccal setie small, arista witli long hairs.
Thorax with three posterior dorsal bristles.
Abdomen with two central spines on second segment. Anal segments of <J both shining black. Wings with a long costal spine. Fifth longitudinal vein bent at an obtuse angle. Legs : posterior tibiie furnished on their inner sides with a few long hairs.
I have seen but one (^ of this rare species, which is in Mr. Verrall's collection.
10. Claturata, Meig., Eond.
Blue-grey. Abdomen marked with three longitudinal black lines. Prontal space narrow. Hind tibia; of $ with a few longish hairs.
Length, 2\ lines.
Sead : breadth of frontal space not more than one-sixth of the width of the head. Style with moderately long hairs.
Thorax rather indistinctly striped. Three dorsal bristles behind the suture.
Abdomen with the second segment armed with two spines in the centre. First segment black, the three others pale grey, marked with three continuous longitudinal black lines, which are expanded but not broken at the posterior edges of the segments, so as to give somewhat the appearance of a series of connected triangular spots. First anal segment of <J grey, second black. Legs : posterior tibia} of <J with a few straggling longish hairs on their inner sides.
9 said to resemble the <J .
This small species bears a very close resemblance to S. dlssimilis (Xo. 11), but may at once be distinguished from it by the absence of teeth upon the second longitudinal vein of the wings. liare. I have one (J in my own collection.
11. A DOLESCF.ys, Eond.
(Jrcy. Thorax and abdomen marked in tlie ordinary manner. Second abdominal segment without central spines. Posterior tibiaj of ^ thickly clothed with s^oft short hairs. Length, 3 lines.
Head : frontal space about one-fourth of the widtli of the head.
Thorax with three posterior dorsal bristles.
Abdomen tessellated in the ordinary manner, and without central spines upon the edge of the second segment. Mings with costal spine small. I^egs with the i)osturior tibiaj of 6 lined along the lower two-thirds of their inner sulfates with short soft liairs. ? unknown.
Eare. There is one ^ in ]Mr. Verrall's collection, taken at Folkestone.
2G4< [April, 1876.
12. Affinis, Fall, Meig., Macq., Zett.
Whitisli-grey, with black lines and spots. Frontal space narrow. Abdomen marked by a single longitudinal line, and with black spots on the posterior margins of the segments. Length, 3| — 4 lines.
Seads : eyes of S near together, being separated by a very uarrow frontal space, which is often of a reddish-brown colour. Style with rather short hairs.
Thorax striped in the ordinary manner, and with three posterior dorsal bristles.
Abdomen without central spines on second segment. First segnient black, second, third and fourth grey, marked with a central black longitudinal line, rather irregular in width, and sometimes interrupted at the sutures, and with six large, black, somewhat triangular shaped spots, one of which is placed at the side of the posterior margin of each segment. Anal segments of tJ small and grey in colour. Wings with no costal spine. Internal trans- verse vein nearly opposite the end of the second longitudinal, which extends considerably beyond it in most species. Legs with posterior tibiss of <J bare.
? similar to <J , but with the frontal space as wide as one-fourth of the head.
Not rare.
13. Setipennis, Rond.
Tellowish-grey, striped and tessellated in the ordinary manner. Second as well as fourth longitudinal vein of wings armed with teeth. Costal spine large. Second abdominal segment with central spines.
Length, 3 — 3| lines.
Sead : frontal space of ? as wide as one-third of the head. Style with long hairs, bristles upon the cheeks a little enlarged.
Thorax with three dorsal bristles behind the suture.
Abdomen with two central spines upon the edge of the second segment. Tessellated in the ordinary manner. Wings : second longitudinal vein armed with teeth along nearly its whole length. Fourth vein with teeth at the base as in all other species. Costal spine large.
Rare. I have not seen a ,^ of this species, and only three ? , one of which is in Mr. Verrall's collection, taken at Ranscombe, one is in my own collection, and I received one from the late Mr. F. Walker.
1-i. DissiMiLis, Meig., Schin.
Grey. Abdomen of (J marked with three longitudinal black lines. Abdomen of ? shining black, with small white spots upon the sides. Frontal space narrow. "Wings tinged with brown, and with the second longitudinal vein dcntigcrous. Posterior tibiae of ^ with a few long scattered hairs. Length, 2 — 3 lines.
Sead : frontal space occupying about one-sixth of the width of the head in <J, and one- fourth in the §. Bristles of cheeks of ordinary size.
Thorax marked in the usual manner, and having three posterior dorsal spines.
Abdomen narrow in 6 , with two central spines upon second segment. First segment shining black, the three following ones grey, marked with three longitudinal black lines, formed by a series of triaughs, the bases of which are placed backwards. Anal segments
May. 1S76.J 2U5
both shining and black. In ? all tlie segments are shining black, but have a small white spot on the lateral edge of each, which is onlj' visible in certain lights. Wings with a smoky tinge, which is especiall}' marked along the anterior border. Costal spine large. Second longitudinal vein armed with minute teeth along its anterior half. Fourth with the teeth extending as far as the internal transverse vein. Legs with a few scattered long hairs on tlie inner sides of the posterior tibia; of <J .
jSTot rare. I captured several ^ of ttis pretty little fly at Tinge- wick, near Buckingham, on 2ncl August, 1873, but did not see a single ? . On tlie I7tli September in the following year, I took four ? in the same locality, but found no (^ .
15. IxFANTULA, Eond.
Grey, (ff striped and marked as in S. dissimilis. Frontal space wide. Posterior tibiae of ^ with inner sides bare. Second longitudi- nal vein dentigerous. Length, 2 lines.
Mead : frontal space nearly equal to one-third of the width of the head in <J.
Thorax striped in the ordinary manner, and having three posterior dorsal bristles.
Abdomen having the second segment armed with two long erect central spines. Form and design much as in S. dissimilis, but with the lateral rows of triangular spots less dis- tinctly formed. Wings armed as in S. dissimilis, but less tinged with brown. Legs without any long hairs upon the inner sides of the tibia of cJ .
? unknown.
Eare. There is one specimen in Mr. Yerrall's collection, captured at Reigate, Surrey.
IG. IIjEMOimiioiUALis, Zett., Eond.
Grey. INIarkcd and tessellated as in *S^. carnaria. Four thoracic bristles behind the suture. Abdomen with two central spines upon the edge of the second segment. First anal segment of ^ shining black, second red. Costal spine of wings distinct. Second longitudi- nal vein without teeth. Beard upon the posterior tibia? of ^ thin and short. Length, 4| — 5 lines.
This species closely resembles S. carnaria in all points except the following. It never attains to the size of some specimens of the latter; the terminal segment of the abdomen is red ; the costal spine is larger ; and the posterior tibiic of the 6 are more thinly and shortly bearded, the hairs only extending a short way up the leg.
The ? closely resembles that of carnaria, but has the tip of the abdomen red.'
Eare. I received a (J of this species from the late Mr. F. AValker, and captured one ? at Bowdon, Cheshire, in June, 1875.
I have not mentioned the names of either Fallen, Meigen, Mac- quart, "Walker, or Schiner, in tlie synonyms of this species, for their d('sori{)ti()iis of <S'. hcemorrhoidahs either apply to the next species, or are so iiii[)("rfcct, lliat it is impossible to say to what species tliey ref6r.
266 [May,
17. NuEus, Rond.
hcemorrhoidalis, Scliin., Meig.?, Macq.?. Grey, marked and tessellated as in tlie preceding species. Thorax with only two dorsal bristles behind the suture. Second abdominal segment without central spines. First anal segment of ^ grey, second red. No costal spine to wings. Fifth longitudinal vein bent at an acute angle. Posterior tibise of ^ with a thick beard.
Length, 5 — 6 lines.
Head : face pale golden -yellow or grey. Frontal space occupying one-fourth of the width of the head. A distinct black or brown stripe runs down the middle of this space, which stripe is wider than the interval that separates it on each side from the e^'e.
Thorax with only two large bristles in the dorsal row, both of which are at the pos- terior part behind the suture, all the others, both before and behind the transverse suture, are very small or almost obsolete (see figure 3).
Abdomen without spines in the centre of second segment. First anal joint of <J extruded and grey, second red. Wings without costal spine. Fifth longitudinal vein bent at an acute or siib-acute angle. Legs with posterior tibise of S thickly, but not longly, bearded.
$ similar to S , except in the usual se.xual differences.
Common.
18. Cruentata, Meig., Rond.
Whitish-grey, striped and tessellated in the ordinary way. Fron- tal stripe equal in width to the space between it and the eye on each side. Fifth longitudinal vein bent at an obtuse or right angle. First anal segment of ^ retracted. Length, 3^ — 1| lines.
Sead : face 8ilvery-white. Frontal space rather wider than in S. nurns, with a dark red or black stripe running down the centre, which is equal in width to the internal on each side between it and the eye, which is of a whitish colour.
Thorax with dorsal line of thoracic bristles as in S. nnrns.
Abdomen without central spines on second segment. Anal segments of <J smaller in proportion than in S. nurus, the first retracted and grey, the second red. Wings with the fifth longitudinal vein bent at a more obtuse angle than in S. nurus. Legs bearded as in S. nurus.
? similar to (J , onlj' frontal space wider.
Rare. Mr. Verrall's collection contains two (^ and two ? , all of which were bred from pupae found in pigeon's dung, at Croydon, Surrey, in which were the remains of dead pigeons.
19. HiEMATODES, Meig., Macq., Zett., Schin., Rond. Yellowish-grey, striped and spotted %ith brownish-black. Frontal
1876.] 267
space wide. Thorax with three posterior dorsal bristles. Posterior tibia* of (^ bare. Length, 3 lines.
Head : width of frontal space in 6 ratlier more than a fourth of the hreadth of the head. Central stripe black, and rather more than double the width of the whitish-coloured interval between it and the eye on each side.
Thorax striped in the usual manner, and armed with five large dorsal bristles, two in front and three behind the transverse suture, as in S. melanura (figure 2).
Abdomen without central spines upon the edge of the second segment. Dorsum marked bj' a longitudinal central stripe, formed by three elongated triangular black spots. Sides tes- sellated with irregularly-shaped black spots. First anal segment of <J pale grej', second light red. Terminal segments of ? reddish-brown. Wings without costal spine. Legs with posterior tibias of <J smooth.
Eare. Two ^ and one ? of this species are in Mr. Verrall's col- lection, all captured at Penzance.
20. K.t:mobrhoa,- Meig., Zett., Schin., Rond. vulnerata, Schin. Yellowish or whitish-grey, striped and tessellated with black. Frontal space narrow. Second and fourth longitudinal veins of wings setigcrous. Second abdominal segment with two central spines. First anal segment of ^ black, with a grey spot, second red.
Length, 3 — 4 lines.
Head : frontal space of <J not more than one-sixth of the width of the head in breadth, and entirely black. In ? the space is nearly twice as wide.
Thorax marked and armed as in 8. hamatodes.
Abdomen with second segment armed with central dorsal spines upon its posterior edge. Colour pale grej', tessellated with three longitudinal rows of black irregularl^'-shaped confluent spots. First anal segment of tJ black, marked with a grey patch, second dull red. Termi- nal segment of 9 pale yelluwish-rcd. Wings with base tinged with brown. Costal spine small, l)ut generally distinct. Second as well as fourth longitudinal veins setigerous. Fifth longitudinal vein bent at a right or obtuse angle. Legs with the posterior tibia} of <S either bare, or ciliated with a few loiigisli liairs, when it constitutes the species vulnerata of Schincr.
Not rare.
In concluHioii, I may remark, that while investigating the minute differences which separate the species of this genus from each other, the question will arise, are these differences in structure sufficient, in many cases, to separate these Hies from each other as specifically dis- tinct, or are they only varieties of one or two types ? I can only say in answer, that the characters upon whiih the foregoing species are founded, will be found to be mostly constant and fixed, and that one distinctive point of difference is almost always accompanied by some other. The only sj)ecies about which 1 have any doubt, is No. 4,
208 [May.
which I have named similis, from the close resemblance which it bears to /S". carnaria, differing from it onlj by the want of the dorsal spines upon the edge of the second abdominal segment. In female specimens of ;S'. carnaria, these spines are sometimes small and absent ; and in a few males I have found them much less than usual : it must there- fore remain to be determined by future investigations whether *S'. similis is to be ranked as a true species, or only a variety of S. carnaria.
Bradford, Yorkshire :
November, 1875.
NOTES ON SOME BKITISH JDOLICHOPODID.E, WTTTT DESCRIPTIONS OF NEW SPECIES.
BY G. H. VERRALL. ^
(concluded from page 248.)
Teuchophortjs spiiv'igerellus, Zett.
This species seems rare, but I have caught it at Lyndhiirst, Da- renth, Upware, Eeigate, &c.
T. PECTiNiFER, Kow., Verb, zool.-bot. Ges. Wien, xviii, p. 218 (18G8). The species recorded in my list as calcaratus, I believe to be pectinifer : I only caught the specimens after the list was in type, and did not sufficiently study the distinctive characters. I con- sider calcaratus sure to occur in Britain. Pectinifer is well dis- tinguished in the male sex by its legs, the hind tibiae being rather stout, with a peculiar tuft of bristles inside, about the middle ; the front tarsi are slightly bristly beneath the basal joint, and the middle femora bear about four conspicuous bristles beneath near the base. The alulae in my specimens seem pale-haired. I caught this species near Three Bridges on July 28th, 1872, in a small wood, about little pools of water in the paths, in such abundance, that I often had forty or fifty specimens in my net at once. It was previously only recorded from Austria.
Stmptcxijs cirrhipes, Hal.
I caught one male at Bracmar on July 22nd.
S. NIGRITIBIALIS, Zett.
This is about the size of >S'. annulijyes, but is easily distinguished by its black hind tibiae ; the face is narrower and whiter, the antennae
1876.1 200
rather aliorter and less pointed, tlu' front coxae paler, the front femora not darkened near the base, the front tibite without a row of black spines down the inside, the abdomen thinner and blacker, the genitalia less retracted ; the third and fourth joints of the hind tarsi bear some very short erect bristles beneath, about five on each joint, but bear no long hairs ; the alulae are pale haired. The female is smaller than that of S. annulipes, and is easily known by its yellow front coxae and fe- mora, black hind tibiae, pale-haired alulae, and narrower face. It is the Dolicliopus nigritihialis of Zetterstedt's Dipt. Skan. xii, p. 4638. Only one male has been recorded from (Eland. I caught two pairs on Scotsdon Moor, near Aberdeen, on the ISth July, ISTl, and one pair at Braemar three days later.
8. BIFASCIELLUS, Zett.
This species seems to occur over north-west Europe, in single examples. I caught one male at Upware on July 10th, last year. It is a very small species, the third joint of the antennae being long, pointed, and pubescent, the face is narrow, silvery, the frons shining blue, silvery about the edges ; the thorax shining green ; the legs and coxae all pale yellow, except the end of the tarsi, the basal joint of the hind tarsi shorter than the second ; third and fourth joints not bristly nor hairy. The abdomen is blackish, a yellow band occupying most of the first and second segments, the genitalia are rather protruded. The discoidal vein ends in the tip of the wing.
Campsicitemus loripes, Hal. (not Fall., as in my list).
An almost black-legged variety of this occurs at Aberlady.
C. PL'SILLUS, Mg.
One male lu-ar Jiyndhurst.
LlA>'CALUS LACL'STRIS, !ScO[).
Near Eawley, last June.
lIvDUOiMioKis PKJX'ux, Jjchui., Gcrst. (= II. incequalipes, Lw.).
This species, although omitted from my list and from Walker's Insecta Britannica, is perhaps one of the commonest British species. It has the wings unspotted, the face and frons all glossy white, the abdomen white haired, greenish-grey, the front femora with spines of equal length, reaching to the tip, and the front tibiae with about four- teen moderately long spines on the inside, of which the last is longer
270 [May'
tlian tlie rest, especially in the male. I tave caught it abundantly at Beaulieu, Seaford, and near Lewes.
ACHALCTJS FLAVICOLLIS, Mg.
I caught two males of this rare species at Three Bridges, on July 28th, 1872.
In the genus Medeierus, my collection is still in a rather unsatis- factory state ; I believe I j^ossess at least a dozen species, but many of them in only one or two specimens, or in only one sex. I intend, therefore, to wait for more matei-ial before introducing doubtful, or describing new, species ; in the meantime I can clearly add : —
Medeteetjs flayipes, Mg.
A south European species, extending from Spain to Asia Minor, and yet, strange to say, tolerably common on posts and wooden build- ings about TTpware, in company with JLT. diadema, L. It is smaller than that species, with quite yellow legs and a white epistoma. Both species were common, close to the house where I stopped, last July, and I soon learned to distinguish them at a distance of several yards, although I overlooked the first specimens oiflavipes until they were killed and pinned. There is one sjDecimen correctly named in the British collection in the British Museum, but two specimens with it belong to the genus Psilopus.
Xanthochloeus bicoloeellus, Zett.
I caught one male of this species at Plashett Park, uear Lewes, unfortunately in rather bad condition, so that I cannot satisfactorily decide the doubt as to this species belonging to the genus Xantho- chlorus.
Psilopus ljetus, Mg.
A male from Fawley, June 20th, 1875, is brilliant green, slightly smaller and thinner than P. longulus, Fall., frons bx'illiant green, face white; the middle tibite and basal joints of middle tarsi beautifully fringed with rather short thin bi'istles ; the basal joint of the hind tarsi equal in length with the second joint ; the alulae yellow-haired, and the genitalia rather concealed. Meigen, in his seventh volume, described this species from a female, and it seems never to have been met with since. I caught a female some years ago ; but, as the speci- men is abroad at present, I do not know the locality.
•Lewes : Aiwil, 187(i. •
1870.1 271
ON CERTAIN BRITISH REMIPTERA-HOMOPTERA.
BY JOHN' SCOTT.
(Deltocephalidje : concluded from p. 244).
Thorax — pronotum yellowisli-wliite, with five more or less distinct white longitudinal lines. Elytra pale, almost transparent ; nerves white; apical areas frequently margined with brown ; apex of the ante-apical ai'ea adjoining the inner apical cue with a dark brown spot. Tibice : 3rd pair, mner mai'gin generally black.
Length, 1^ line.
10. PUNCTITM, Flor.
Easily distinguislied from all the other Bi'itish species by the solitaiy brown spot on the elytra.
The only specimens I have seen are those referred to by the Rev. T. A. Marshall, taken at Milford Haven.
Section B. Ocellated species.
More or less lurid yellow. Elytra about as long as the abdomen, nerves very pale yellowish-white or white ; anterior marginal nerve at the apex of the costal area and the ante-apical area with a brown margin.
Head — croicn with a short, oblique, black streak on each side of the apex, and a more or less distinct reddish or orange triangular patch near the anterior margin of the eyes. Face more or less dark brown, with six to eight transverse yellow lines on each side, frequently appearing only as commas next the middle. Cheeks and lorce yellow, the latter margined with brown.
Thorax — pronotum brownish-yellow. Scutellum yellowish-white. Elytra about as long as the abdomen, pale lurid yellow ; nerves very pale yellowish-white or white ; marginal nerve at the apex of the costal area and the ante-apical area with a brown margin ; nerves of the apical areas margined with brown, broadest exteriorly ; discoidal and ante-apical areas narrowly and irregularly margined with brown, in some instances obsolete. Leys pale yellow. Thiyhs: Ist pair generally black at the base, and with a half-band or two spots of the same color in the middle ; 3rd pair with a black streak along the upper margin. Tibice : 3rd pair with a black longitudinal line interiorly j apoi black. Tarsi : 3rd pair black ; Ist joint basal half yellow. Length, IJ line.
11. Falleni, Fieb.
I can perceive no difference between this species and D. paleaceus, J. 8ahlberg, judging from the insects sent to that author for de- termination, and returned by him with the above names attached ; as on examination the genitalia in both cases Avcre identical, and agree admirably with Fieber's ligures in the Verb. z.-b. Ges. Wien, xix, 210, 24.
272 CM;iy,
Very pale 0('lirc'ous--\vhitc or sometimes with a faint fuscous shade. Elytra v<\i\\ four or five spots and two streaks on each elytron.
Head — croion frequently pale brownish-yellow, with a short, slightly curved, brown streak on each side of the apex, two triangular spots in a line with the anterior margin of the eyes, and tM'o short oblique streaks near the posterior margin, these characters are more or less obsolete in different individuals. Face brown, with a whitish or white central, longitudinal streak unequal in breadth ; apical one-third whitish or white ; sides with about four transverse white lines.
Thorax — pronotum pale, sometimes with four longitudinal yellowish lines. Scutellum sometimes with a dark fuscous triangular spot at each basal angle. JElytra very pale ochreous-wliite or sometimes with a fuscous shade ; nerves pearl-white. Clavus : inner margin between the 1st and central nerve, and between the latter and the apex, with a black streak ; space between the anal nerve and the suture at the base white, followed by an oblong black patch. Corium .- central area, with a round black spot at the base ; central apical area and the anteapical one in a line with it, more or less black ; apex of the discoidal area with a black patch ; not unfrcquontly these black characters fill the areas, which are then separated only by the white nerves whicli liavo a cruciform appearance. Legs pale. Tarsi : 3rd pair, apex of 2nd and 3rd joints fuscous. Length, I5 — 2 lines.
12. SABULICOLA, Curt.
Although the characters on the elytra are very variable, the forms which appear to be most common have five black spots and two streaks on each elytron, thus approaching some of the varieti'es of D. striatus, with which, however, it can never be confounded by the difference in the genitalia in both sexes.
A common species on sandy places on the sea coast from July to November.
Greyish-testaceous. Elytra : nerves of the two inner ante-apical and two inner apical areas narrowly margined with black ; central apical area black. Sometimes, with the exception of the last, the whole of the characters are obsolete.
Head — crown in ordinaiy types, with characters similar to those on D. sahiilicola. Face brown, lower half with a pale longitudinal central line, and six or seven transverse lines on each side.
Thorax — pronotum greyish-testaceous. Scutellum with two black punctures, above the transverse cliannel and generally a brown triangular spot at each basal angle. Elytra greyish or whitish ; nerves white. Clavus : characters almost as in D. sabiilicola. Corium : nerves of the two inner anteapical and two inner apical areas narrowly margined with black ; central apical area black, sometimes, with the exception of the last, the whole of the characters are obsolete, or the whole of the areas are suffused with black, leaving the costal and ante-apical area immediately below it always pale. In the last case the crown has two lon- gitudinal black lines and the pronotum four. Length, li — 1 J line.
• 13. STBiATrs, Lin.
1870.] 27:1
A soule^vllut smaller and uiucli more commou species than JJ. sabulicola, to whieli some of the forms bear a great resemblance, but the different general colour, and the want of the white cruciform characters formed by the transverse nerves of the corium of the last named species, will at once point out their distinctness.
On the continent, there is a species described by Fieber under the name of D. Linncei, which might be mistaken for D. striatus, and although I have not met with it amongst the number of specimens I have examined, it is worth while to examine all those supposed to represent the insect now described. The posterior margin of the last alidominal segment of the ? of D. Linncsi is r^ — . shaped, while in D. striatus it is very faintly concave.
Yellow, reddish, or brownish-yellow. Elytra longer or shorter than the abdomen ; areas more or less margined with black ; nerves white.
Head — crown down the centre a little longer than the ■width across the anterior margin of the eyes ; on each side of the apex a small brown or black triangular spot, and before the anterior margin of the eyes a transverse, somewhat concave, brown or black band. Face brown or black, witli 5-G transverse, fine, whitish lines on each side, slightly thickened internally. Clt/peus yellow, with one or two brown or black lines down the middle. Cheeks and lores yellow, the latter margined with dark brown.
Elytra longer or shorter than the abdomen, yellow or reddish or brownish-yellow ; nerves white ; areas more or less margined with black. Legs as in D. Falleni.
Abdomen : $ , beneath black, last segment broadly yellowish in the middle ; con- nexivum with a triangular yellow spot on each segment ; genital valve black, margin yellow ; apex somewhat obtuse ; plates black, an irregular patch at the base, and the margin narrowly yellow ; hypopygial lobes thickly sot with stout brownish hairs ; $ , beneath yellow ; 2-3 basal segments black in the middle ; posterior margin of the last segment with a slight notch in the centre margined with black. Length, li line.
14. sociALis, Flor.
Ah a rule, the brachypterous form is always pale, and with ahnoat only the apical areas margined as in 1). Fallcni, while in i\w macrop- terous form all the areas are more or Icsh broadly margined witli black, thereby causing the nerves to appear much whiter than usual. I), onustus, Fieb., and quadrii-iKdtus, Marshall, are both refei'able here.
Yellowish-brown. Croirn with a curved Mack line on each side of the apex, as also a spot nearer to the eyes, and a faint, transverse, broarl, sli<4htlv curved, brown hand in a line with the anterior marjiin
274 [May,
of the eyes. Elytra yellowish-brown ; nerves white ; all the areas margined with blaek ; anterior margin with two white spots, one at the base, the other at the apex of the first apical area.
Head — crown yellowish-wliite, length down the centre about equal to the width across the anterior margin of the eyes ; on each side of the apex a curved black line, and about midway between its outer extremity and the eyes, a black spot. Face black, on each side 5-7 fine transverse yellow lines, those on the frona somewhat thickened at their inner extremity. Clypens yellow, with a broad, brown patch down the middle. Cheeks and lorm yellow, the latter margined with brown.
Thorax — pronotnm yellowish or slightly ferruginous, palest in front of the transverse channel, at the extremities of which is a more or less distinct oblong dark streak. Sctdellum yellowish or slightly ferruginous. JElytra yellowish-brown, shining, as long as the abdomen ; nerves white, stout ; all the areas margined with black ; base and apex of the 1st apical area on the anterior margin with a white spot ; exterior margin of all the apical areas broadly fuscous-black. Legs yellow ; thighs : 1st and 2nd pairs with two black rings ; 3rd with a black line along the upper margin, and a broad black streak along the upper and under-sides, not reaching the apex. TibicB yellow ; 1st and 2nd pairs with four or five black spots on the anterior margin ; 3rd, broadly black internally ; apex narrowly black ; spines yellow, set in black punctures. Tarsi : 3rd pair black, 1st joint at the base yellow.
Abdomen : $ , beneath black, last segment yellowish or brownish-yellow, posterior margin brown ; centre with a small semi-oval incision, sides concave.
Length, 1^ line. 15. ocuLATUs, J. Sahib.
The present species bears a great resemblance to the onustus form of D. socialis, but the areas are more regularly margined, and the posterior margin of the last abdominal segment beneath of the ? of an entirely different shape. It was sent to Dr. J. Sahlberg, with some others, and returned by him with the above name attached. A single $ in the collection of Mr. Douglas.
Testaceous. Elytra as long as the abdomen ; nerves for the most part white. Clavus : between the suture and the adjoining nerve transversely divided into 5-6 small areas, all of which are more or less margined with black.
Head — crown yellowish-white, about as long down the centre as the breadtli across the eyes ; on each side of the apex a short brown or black streak, frequently triangular in shape ; before the eyes a more or less distinct transverse bi'own streak frequently divided in the middle, so that the intervening spaces form a white cross. Face black, dull, with -1—5 transverse yellow lines on each side, sometimes almost obliterated, in the centre a large irregular yellow spot ; apical margin frequently yellow. Clypeus black with a yellow margin, or yellow with a more or leas broad black streak down the middle. Cheeks yellow, margin next the eyes black ; lorce j'cllow, margined Tfith black.
i«7r..) 275
Thorax — pronolnm and scnttUum yellowish-white, the foniier with from 3-5 more or less distinct whitish longitudinal lines. Elytra testaceous, as long as the ab- domen; nerves for the most part white. Clavus : between the suture and the adjoining nerve transversely divided into 5-6 small areas, all of which are more or less mai'gined with black. Coriitm : central ante-apical area divided transversely by a nerve : upper portion somewhat oval, more or less broadly blact, especially along the outer margin ; apical areas and those adjoining margined with black, the former very broadly exteriorly ; costal area at its apex and the area immediately below it with a black line along the anterior margin. JLegs black ; thighs : apex of all the pairs yellow. Tibice black, or sometimes the 1st pair yellow ; 2nd and 3rd at the base yellow, sometimes the anterior margin yellow with black punctures, in which are set the stout yellow spines.
Abdomen : <J and ? , beneath, black, dull ; posterior margin of the last abdominal segment of the $ with a small square projection in the middle.
Length, 1§ — Ij line. 16. OCELLAEIS, Fall.
The division of the portion of the clavus into small areas, and the always conspicuous dark area in the middle of the corium, render this species easy of detection.
Extremely abundant everywhere.
Brovraish or brownish-yellow. Elytra longer or shorter than the abdomen, disc commonly with two large irregular dark brown or black patches placed behind encli other, and separated by a white transverse nerve.
Head — croton brownish-yellow, somewhat convex, length down the centre about three-quarters of the width across the anterior margin of the eyes ; on each side of the apex a small black triangular spot, and more interiorly a second prolonged into a line, terminating at the anterior margin of the eyes ; in different indi- viduals these cliaracters arc more or less modified. Face black, with from 3-5 short, transverse, ferruginous lines on each side. Cli/peus, cheeks, and lorce black.
Thorax — pronotiim brown, anteriorly yellowish, and witli a more or less distinct, pale, central, longitudinal line. Scutellum brownish-yellow. Elytra^ longer or shorter than the abdomen, pale brownish-yellow ; nerves fine, white. Clavus more or less pale or dark brown, or sometimes blackish ; nerves white. Corium : anterior margin except the base dark brown or blackish ; disc in macropterous forms with two large irregular dark brown or black patches, each composed of 4-5 longitudinal lines of unequal liMigth, and separated by a white transverse nerve ; apical areas fuscous. Leys black ; thiyhs : apex of all the pairs yellow. Tibite : Ist and 2nd pairs yellowish or brownish ; anterior margin of the 2nd, or frequently both, spotted with black; 3rd black, base narrowly yellow ; spines brownish-yellow.
Abdomen black ; posterior margin of the last abdominal segment of the ? beneath, in the centre with a small semi-circular projection, and the sides convex.
Length, 1 line. 17. I'VUCAKitj, Fall.
270 [May,
Easily recognised by its ssinudgy black-lead appearance, caused by the colour shining through the elytra from the black abdomen, and the two more or less distinct patches on the elytra.
Exceedingly common from June to October.
Pale testaceous. Eh/tra longer than the abdomen, nerves white ; in a line with the apex of the clavus a more or less distinct, broad, w^hite, transverse band terminating at the claval suture ; disc, almost in the middle with a black spot ; anterior margin above and below the white band with a black patch, the lower one always largest.
Head — crown testaceous, convex ; anterior margin with three black spots on each side of the centre, one or other of them frequently united ; a little more in- teriorly, two semi-circular black lines, and adjoining the posterior margin of each eye two black spots ; frequently these characters are reddish- brown, and more or less oblitei-ated. Face black, with or without a yellow central longi- tudinal line ; on each side about four transverse yellow lines ; apical margin yellow. Clt/peus yellow, broadly black down the middle. Cheeks brown ; lorce yellow, margins black. AntenncB : 1st joint white, 2nd black ; setcB brown.
Thorax — pronotiim somewhat greyish-testaceous, with two black spots on each, placed trans vei'sely, and in a line with the posterior margin of the eyes. Scu- tellum pale testaceous, with two small black punctures above the transverse channel ; basal angles with a red or orange-red triangidar spot. 'Elytra longer than the abdomen ; nerves white ; in a line witli the apex of the clavus a more or less distinct, broad, white, transverse band, terminatuig at the claval suture ; disc almost in the middle with a black spot ; anterior margin above and below the white band witli a black patch, the lower one always largest and con- spicuous ; apical areas fuscous. Legs yellowish ; thighs : 1st and 2nd pairs at the base broadly black, beyond the middle a narrow black ring, and at the apex generally a black spot ; 3rd yellowish, lower margin black ; inner side at the apex with e black spot. TibicB yellowish ; 2nd pair at the base with a black spot interiorly ; 3rd, down the inner margin black ; spines yellowish set in black punctures. Abdomen black; $ , beneath ; 3rd, -Itli, and 5th segments with a yellow triangle on each side ; last segment yellow, posterior margin slightly concave.
Length, li line. 18. AEGUs, Marshall.
Slightly larger, always clearer, and the characters on the elytra more sharply defined than in D. puliearis, from which also it differs in having a white band on the corium and the posterior margin of the last abdominal segment of the ? of an entirely different shape. Eieber has described a species {D.fasciatiis) which must be extremely like the above, and it will be well to examine the markings on the crown, and the shape of the posterior margin of the last segment of the abdomen of females.
Seemingly not uncommon, as I have met with specimens in nearly all the collections I have examined.
Lee : Fehruary, 1876. •
Description of fh-e hirra, Sfc, of Bolyx lancealis. — Siiico llio pulilicfition of tl):it interesting paper, "In memoriam Carl von Ilcydcn," in The Entoraologis'.s' Annual for 1SG7, I had cherished the hope of obtaining the larva of lancealis, and this hope lias at length been fulfilled, thanks to the kindness of Di\ J. H. "Wood, of Tarrington, who succeeded in detecting it in Herefordshire, and kindly sent me two young examples on the 13th August, and three more (full-grown) on the 1st September, 1874.
Not having seen any description of this larva, it has occurred to me to give one, together with some account of the behaviour of the few individuals I had in captivity.
Of the first two larva; I received, one liad been accidentally crushed, but its companion arrived in a lively condition, wriggling and leaping, both forwards and backwards equally well, whenever disturbed from its web spun amongst the leaves of the Eupatorium cannabinum.
Tlie yomigest larvte was about five-eighths of an inch long, and at this stage of its growth was rather uniform in size, thougli in other respects showing the character- istics of a Pyralis ; its pale drab head spotted and freckled with darkish-browri, the back and upper sides of tlie body bhiish-green, the thoracic segments rather yellower- green, a whitish hair-like splracular line, the belly and legs pale whitish-green ; the second segment as shining as the head, and minutely speckled with black, the dorsal vessel faintly showiiig as a rather darker green pulsating stripe ; the segmental folds greenish-white, the tubercular warty eminences, though of the ground colour, yet glistening with a pearly lustre ; the rest of the skin at this time generally without gloss, but so thin as to be semi-transparent.
Wlien fresh food was supplied to tliis larva, it soon spun a new web for its dwelling under the end of a leaf, folding it down, and remaining quiet for some time ; afterwards often coming out at intervals to feed on the neighbouring leaves.
On one occasion of changing the food I watched the larva spin another web ; it first took up its position on the under-side of a leaf, across the midrib, about an incli from the tip, and began operations by fixing a tlu'cad of silk on one side of the leaf, then stretching itself round, it carried over the thread and fixed it on the opposite side, and so it continued regularly from one side to the other, the fore-part of its body ivt each movement describing a segment of a circle ; — occasionally it paused a moment to advance a step, and then began spinning again, and so on until satisfied that it liad spun enough ; then it changed its position, and laid itself to rest along the midrib of the leaf: this web was more than half as long again as the larvffi itself, and aliout lialf-an-inch in width, excepting just at the ends which were a little less, and both open ; the silk of whicli it was spun being rather fine in texture, and whitish. After a sliort rest the larva crept a little way out of the web, and began nibbling the edge of the leaf it had chosen to reside under ; at this moment, in order to have a clearer view, I cautiously ventured to turn aside the tip of another leaf adjacent, — but so timorous was the larva that it sprang instantly backwards into its web, where in alarm it remaint^d for a long time witli its length much contracted. In course of a few hours after this it had firmly fastened its leaf to two or three other leaves close by, and I did not disturb it again until the 18th of the month, when I found it had just moulted, and not only increased somewhat it size, but assumed a different dress, together with tlie usual proportions that characterise the genus. On tiie 23rd I saw it was full-grown, and took the following dcjcription : —
278 [May,
Length seven-eiglitlis of an inch, the body tapering at each end, and thickest in the middle, especially when yiewed sideways ; the head small and rather flattened, the segments plump and well defined on the back and sides, and more particularly on the belly where they are deeply cut, and very tumid at the setting on of all the legs, especially the ventral ones, which are rather long, slender, and spreading a little at their hooked extremities, the anal pair extending backwards and a little outwards ; the anterior legs very well developed. In colour the glossy head is light drab, speckled with dark brown, and having the papillis tipped with brown ; the second segment, also glossy, is green above, with the boundary of a plate defined on either side by a series of four black dots decreasing in size from the front ; on the rest of the back a dark green dorsal stripe, which is attenuated a little towards each end, its course relieved on either side by a broad stripe of opaque pearly greyish-white, followed by a broader semi-transparent green stripe, distinct without hardness, margined below by a thi-ead-like opaque whitish line which thickens as it approaches each segmental division ; on this line are situated the small circular black spiracles ; all beneath, including the belly and legs, have a pale watery tint of greenish ; the tubercular warts have each a fine silky hair ; the whole skin is tense, sliining, and more or less translucent.
On the 25th August this larva ceased to feed, left the plant, and spun a web in a corner at the top of its cage, having by degrees become of a beautiful opaque rose- pink colour on the back, and greenish-flesh colour on the belly, destitute of any line or stripe, the head alone remaining unaltered in colour and markings. By the 31st I found the web completed ; it was of triangular shape composed of whitish silk enclosing a space an inch in length ; within was a hammock-like cocoon of finer white silk, and in this lay the larva. Its coloui-ing again changed to an uniform flesh tint ; and from this time it rested quiescent, without any further change in its appearance, until the last week in April, 1875, when I saw its position was different, and it seemed a little shorter and tliickcr than before ; on the 3rd May I found it had pupated.
This piipa was three-eighths of an inch in length, moderately slender in form, with the wing and antenna cases long, the abdominal tip terminating with four or five minute bi'istles converging at their extremities, which were entangled in the silk of the cocoon, the old larval skin lying bcliind them ; the colour of the pupa was a very pale brown, with shining surface.
Of the three other full-grown larvffi before mentioned, it will suflice to say that their details were just as I have already described ; the variations were simply in tlie depth of the colouring : one much darker than the others, in which the light stripes of the back were greenish-grey ; the other parts proportionally darker : another was much paler, the stripes of the back being ivory-white : their liabits also were similar. Two of them reached the roseate stage on the 9th September, the 3rd ou the 12th.
One spun its cocoon on the straight upper edge of its cage, against the gauze top, to which it partly adhered ; this was extcrioi'ly much of a hammock shape ; this larva pupated May 6th, 1875. The two others choose to spin themselves up under two or three leaves, which they securely fastened to the side and bottom of their respective cages, hidden from observation.
isTfi.] 279
The oarliost moth to appear was a male on May 29tli from tlie first hxrva wliose progress I have traced ; from the second pupa a female emerged on the 31st, and on the 7th June a male : the remaining larva died from mildew attacking it and its leafy hibernaculum. — W.M. Buckler, Emsworth : Januarij 2Sth, 1876.
A supposed new British species of Lettcania. — I have to announce the capture of what I hope will turn out to be a new species of Leucania. It was taken by my- self last autumn near the river Bure, between Yarmouth and Horning, brought home and set by my daughter. My attention was not drawn to it for two or three months, when I noticed its singular appearance, but professional engagements, which prevent my attending to entomology during the winter mouths, compelled me to put it on one side with several other doubtful moths till a month ago, when a friend noticed its peculiarity, and we went over the late Mr. Doubleday's collection. There we found nothing, either among the British or European species, to compare with my moth, the nearest approach being L. Loreyi. When its unique character is more fully determined, I will forward a detailed description. — W. Batteksuell Gill, M.D., 9, Cambridge TeiTace, Kegent's Park, N.W.
(Dbituarii.
Thomas Wilkinson. This well-known entomologist died at his residence at Scarborough (we believe from the rupture of a blood-vessel) on the 13th April, at the age of 58. Although an uneducated man, and of humble oi'igin, he made for himself a conspicuous position in the annals of British entomology ; and those among our readers who can cany their memory back to the days of the " Intelligencer " and the " Manual of British Butterflies and Moths," will be able to appreciate the force of this remark. They will remember with what ardour he entered into the investigation of the life-history of the Micro-Lepidoptera, and the extraordinary number of valuable discoveries made by him m this branch of entomology, his natural quickness of perception enabling him to follow up the slightest clue, and he rarely failed to trace out the whole history of any species that occurred in his neighbourhood. In this, he was aided by a strong constitution and great powers of endurance, which enabled him to make long and arduous excursions under the fatigues of which most men would have soon succumbed. Having, to a considerable extent, exhausted the subject of Micro- Lejndoplera in the vicinity of Scarborough, and his circumstances not permitting of the exploration of new fields in this branch, he latterly turned his attention to Coleoptera and llemiptera, and in both made important captures, including additions to our Fauna and to science in the latter Order. The care and skill with which his specimens were pi-cpared are patent to all who have seen his collections ; his British Micro-Lepidoptera are hardly to be surpassed cither for completeness or condition. Those who knew him per- sonally, saw in him a quiet unassuming investigator of Nature's secrets, utterly disinterested in every thing he undertook, and characteristically free from any of the petty jealousies that are too frequent among local naturalists.
Entomological Society of London: 5<A April, 1876. — Professor Westwood, President, in the Chair.
Messrs. J. W. Douglas, E. C. Eye, F.Z.S., Charles Feun, George Lewis, J.
2S0 [May, 187G.
Dunning Kay, and W. C Copperthwaite, were elected Ordinary Members ; and Mr. B. A. Bower, Jun., was elected a Subscriber.
Mr. F. Bond exbibited an example of Xylina Jamhda taken near Eritli in September last by Mr. W. Marshall, being the fifth known instance of the occurrence of the species in Britain. Also Ebulea stacht/dalis, taken by himself at Kingsbury, Middlesex, in June, 1802.
Mr. Champion cxjiibited specimens of ^gialia rufa taken by Mr. Sidebotham near Southport : and he brought examples of PsammoMus sideicollis for distribution.
The President made some - observations respecting the habits of the common gnat in continuation of his remarks at the meeting for November 4th, 1872 {vide Ent. M. M., ix, p. 167). Large numbers of females had again appeared in his house at Oxford during the first warm days of spring, and he suspected that they had liibernated in the house. They had commenced their usual practices, and some of those killed were full of blood. He also remarked that Dr. Leconte's valuable collection of Coleoptera had been presented to the University at Cambridge, Massachusetts.
Sir S. S. Saunders exhibited living examples of Stylops Kirhii found a day or two previously at Hampstead, three having been taken on the vving, in the forenoon. He had found eighteen males in all : one Andrena contained three undeveloped males. Mr. Enock followed up this exhibition by an account of his own captures of male Stylops at the same place, and nearly at the same time. He had captured ten on the wing : one Aiidrena contained four individuals. Males were developed from a living Andrena in a pill box during the meeting.
The Rev. A. E. Eaton announced that he had in preparation a Supplement to his "Monograph on the Ephemcridse," chiefly from the materials in the collections of Mr. McLachlan and Mr. H. Albarda. He requested help from any one possessing insects of this fani'ly. It appeared probable that in some genera {ex. gr. Campsurus) the legs were shed with the sub-imaginal pellicle, thus accounting for the nearly legless condition of the imagos.
Mr. Smith made some remarks on the distribution of some genera of Hymen- opterous insects from New Zealand, according to a coUection placed in his hands by Mr. C. M. Wakefield, in which he was followed by Mr. McLachlan, who remarked on the gradual extinction of the endemic Fauna of New Zealand, although intro- duced forms throve wonderfully.
The Rev. R. P. Murray stated that he was preparing a list of Japanese Butter- flies, and would be grateful for information, or the loan of specimens, in connection therewith.
Mr. McLaclilan cxliibited a series of Anomalopteryx Chauviniana, Stein, from Silesia, given to him by the discoverer of the species — Fraulein Marie von Chauvin of Freibm-g. This singular Trichopterous insect pertained to the family Limno- philidee, and was remarkable for the lanceolate anterior, and abbreviated posterior wings of the <J , those of the $ being normal, excepting that the posterior wings were smaller than usual. Also apterpus females of Acentropus niveus received from Mr. Ritsema of Leyden {vide ante p. 257). Further, a microscopic slide with a full-grown female example of Fhylloxera vaslatrix of the root form. This he had recently obtained, with many others, from a vinery near London, which was terribly infested with the insect. . '
y END OF VOL. XII. ' ^
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